bubonic plague

noun

: plague caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes

Examples of bubonic plague in a Sentence

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From ancient Rome to early modern England, it was recommended for treating a wild spectrum of afflictions—from simple sores to the bubonic plague. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 The tale, written and directed by Jason Bourne‘s Paul Greengrass, meets Garfield as Ploughman, a farmer grieving the loss of his wife and children to the bubonic plague years earlier. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Researchers found that this type of ancient plague evolved long before bubonic plague, which was responsible for the Black Death that struck medieval Europe. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 O’Farrell speculates, reasonably, that Hamnet may have been a victim of bubonic plague, and her book centers on the family’s grief in the aftermath of his death. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bubonic plague

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bubonic plague was in 1803

Rhymes for bubonic plague

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Browse Nearby Words

bubonic
bubonic plague
Bubonidae
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Cite this Entry

“Bubonic plague.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bubonic%20plague. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bubonic plague

noun
: a form of plague that is spread especially from rats to humans by fleas and is marked by chills, fever, weakness, and buboes

Medical Definition

bubonic plague

noun
: plague caused by a bacterium of the genus Yersinia (Y. pestis synonym Pasteurella pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes compare pneumonic plague

More from Merriam-Webster on bubonic plague

Nglish: Translation of bubonic plague for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bubonic plague

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