bronchiolitis

noun

bron·​chi·​ol·​i·​tis ˌbräŋ-kē-ō-ˈlī-təs How to pronounce bronchiolitis (audio)
: inflammation of the bronchioles

Examples of bronchiolitis 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.
As a 5-month-old, he was hospitalized in an intensive care unit with bronchiolitis in 2018. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Possible complications can include croup, pneumonia, asthma attacks, middle ear infections, bronchiolitis and fever, the CDC said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026 But babies, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic lung conditions are more likely to get seriously sick, developing illnesses like bronchiolitis or pneumonia. — Evan Moore november 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025 This condition, called bronchiolitis, can cause wheezing and is most dangerous in the first months of life, when newborns’ airways are extremely narrow. — Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bronchiolitis

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from bronchiolum bronchiole + -itis -itis

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bronchiolitis was in 1887

Rhymes for bronchiolitis

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Browse Nearby Words

bronchiole
bronchiolitis
bronchitic
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Cite this Entry

“Bronchiolitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bronchiolitis. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

bronchiolitis

noun
bron·​chi·​ol·​itis -ō-ˈlīt-əs How to pronounce bronchiolitis (audio)
: inflammation of the bronchioles

More from Merriam-Webster on bronchiolitis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bronchiolitis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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