What does gonorrhea mean?
Gonorrhea is the common English name for a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It commonly infects the urethra, cervix, rectum, or throat and can also affect the eyes. Many people have no symptoms, so regular testing is important, particularly for people who have new or multiple sexual partners. When symptoms occur, they may include unusual discharge, pain during urination, pelvic pain, sore throat, or rectal discomfort. Diagnosis requires laboratory testing, and treatment uses antibiotics prescribed according to current medical guidance. The informal expression “the clap” is still widely understood, although the formal medical term is preferred in professional and educational writing. The name comes from Greek gonorrhoia, composed of words meaning “seed” and “flow.” Today, “gonorrhea” is the usual American spelling, while “gonorrhoea” remains common in British English.
nounGonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can affect the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, and eyes, and it may cause no symptoms.
- The sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
"Routine screening can detect gonorrhea before it causes noticeable symptoms."
"The clinic confirmed gonorrhea with a laboratory test."
"Public health officials warned that untreated gonorrhea can spread to the reproductive organs."
The plural is uncommon in modern medical writing, where “cases of gonorrhea” is usually clearer and more natural.
"The outbreak report noted two gonorrheas among the clinic’s patients."
The Greek roots behind gonorrhea literally mean “seed” and “flow,” making it one of medicine’s most unusually direct names.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gonorrhea come from?
The word derives from Greek gonorrhoia, a compound of gonos, meaning “seed” or “semen,” and rhein, meaning “to flow.” The Greek term originally referred literally to a flow of seed and was adopted into Latin and English as the name of the disease. “Gonorrhoea” is the traditional British spelling, whereas “gonorrhea” is standard in American English.
Related word forms
How gonorrhea is actually used
This is the standard formal medical term in clinical, public-health, and educational contexts. “Gonorrhea” is the usual American spelling, while “gonorrhoea” is the traditional British spelling. The informal term “clap” is widely recognized but may sound crude or stigmatizing.
Easily confused with gonorrhea
Chlamydia is a different sexually transmitted infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, although it can have similar symptoms and sometimes occur at the same time.