toxoplasmosis

noun

toxo·​plas·​mo·​sis ˌtäk-sə-ˌplaz-ˈmō-səs How to pronounce toxoplasmosis (audio)
plural toxoplasmoses ˌtäk-sə-ˌplaz-ˈmō-ˌsēz How to pronounce toxoplasmosis (audio)
: infection of humans, other mammals, or birds with disease caused by a toxoplasma (Toxoplasma gondii) that invades the tissues and may seriously damage the central nervous system especially of infants

Examples of toxoplasmosis 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.
Not all studies, however, produce a link between toxoplasmosis and sperm quality. — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025 Finally, Trump tries to infect Satan with toxoplasmosis by dumping pounds of kitty litter on him. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025 That’s because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted through cats’ feces. — Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Aug. 2025 In the program, grant funding may also be used for vaccination programs that help prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as rabies, toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis. — Lillian Vest, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toxoplasmosis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxoplasmosis was in 1926

Rhymes for toxoplasmosis

See All Rhymes for toxoplasmosis

Browse Nearby Words

toxoplasmal
toxoplasmosis
Toxostoma
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toxoplasmosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxoplasmosis. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

toxoplasmosis

noun
toxo·​plas·​mo·​sis -ˌplaz-ˈmō-səs How to pronounce toxoplasmosis (audio)
plural toxoplasmoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce toxoplasmosis (audio)
: infection with or disease caused by a sporozoan of the genus Toxoplasma (T. gondii) that invades the tissues and may seriously damage the central nervous system especially of infants

More from Merriam-Webster on toxoplasmosis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toxoplasmosis

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