pink eye

noun

ˈpiŋk-ˌī How to pronounce pink eye (audio)
variants or pinkeye
: conjunctivitis
especially : contagious conjunctivitis typically caused by a virus or bacterium

Examples of pink eye in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both had a fever, a cough, a rash, pink eye, and cold symptoms. — Andrew Jones, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026 Above the striping comes mesh in the same color, beneath which pink eye stay loops can be faintly made out before coming to the surface. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 7 May 2026 Red, watery eyes that can develop into pink eye or conjunctivitis. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 7 May 2026 Symptoms include fever lasting about two days, runny nose, conjunctivitis — also known as pink eye — and a rash. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pink eye

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pink eye was in 1855

Rhymes for pink eye

See All Rhymes for pink eye

Browse Nearby Words

Pinkerton
pink eye
pink family
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pink eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pink%20eye. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

pinkeye

noun
pink·​eye ˈpiŋ-ˌkī How to pronounce pinkeye (audio)
: a contagious disease in which the inner surface of the eyelid and part of the eyeball become pinkish and sore

Medical Definition

pink eye

noun
variants or pinkeye
ˈpiŋ-ˌkī How to pronounce pink eye (audio)
: conjunctivitis
especially : contagious conjunctivitis typically caused by a virus or bacterium
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All