pneumonic

adjective

pneu·​mon·​ic nu̇-ˈmä-nik How to pronounce pneumonic (audio)
nyu̇-
1
: of, relating to, or affecting the lungs
pneumonic plague
: pulmonic, pulmonary
2
: of, relating to, or affected with pneumonia

Examples of pneumonic in a Sentence

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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.
July 2025 was when the last person in the US died from pneumonic plague. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 There are three main forms of plague—bubonic plague, septicemic plague and pneumonic plague. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026 Concerns are sweeping across Russia and the world after a laboratory technician reportedly died from pneumonic plague in Siberia. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026 The plague can also spread through the respiratory droplets of someone who has pneumonic plague. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pneumonic

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pneumonicus, from Greek pneumonikos, from pneumōn

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pneumonic was in 1668

Rhymes for pneumonic

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Browse Nearby Words

pneumonia
pneumonic
pneumonitis
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Cite this Entry

“Pneumonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumonic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

pneumonic

adjective
pneu·​mon·​ic n(y)u̇-ˈmän-ik How to pronounce pneumonic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or affecting the lungs : pulmonary
2
: of, relating to, or affected with pneumonia
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