What does typhoid mean?
Typhoid is the common short form of typhoid fever, an infectious intestinal disease caused by Salmonella Typhi. It is most often spread when food or water is contaminated with infected human waste, although the bacterium can also be transmitted by contaminated food. The illness can cause fever, abdominal pain, headache, and, in severe cases, intestinal complications; antibiotics are the standard treatment. Typhoid differs from typhus, which is a separate group of bacterial infections. In everyday and public-health contexts, “typhoid” is both familiar and precise, while “typhoid fever” is the conventional full expression. The term is also used attributively, as in “typhoid patient,” “typhoid carrier,” and “typhoid vaccine.” Its history reflects an earlier attempt to distinguish enteric fever from other severe febrile diseases, and its meaning remains closely associated with sanitation, clean water, and prevention through vaccination.
An infectious disease caused by Salmonella Typhi, usually transmitted through contaminated food or water; also called typhoid fever.
"The investigation found that the typhoid had been linked to contaminated water."
“Typhoid fever” is the standard formal expression; “typhoid” is the usual everyday and public-health shorthand.
Relating to or affected by typhoid fever.
"The typhoid patient was moved to a separate ward for monitoring."
This attributive use is common in medical and public-health contexts, especially with words such as “patient,” “carrier,” “vaccine,” and “outbreak.”
The plural is uncommon; when used, it refers to separate instances or cases of the disease.
"The regional health authority recorded two typhoids during the summer."
Typhoid was once grouped with typhus, but the two names describe different diseases; its name literally means “typhus-like.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does typhoid come from?
The medical term was formed in the early nineteenth century from Greek typhos, meaning “fever” or “heat,” and a form of the Greek suffix -oeidēs, meaning “resembling.” The name reflects the term’s historical relationship to typhus, although the two conditions are now known to be distinct. Typhus comes from the same Greek source and is therefore a cognate, while “typhous” is another related English formation.
Related word forms
How typhoid is actually used
As a standalone noun, “typhoid” is a widely accepted shortening of “typhoid fever.” In formal medical writing, the full phrase is more usual. As an adjective, it commonly appears before words such as “fever,” “patient,” “vaccine,” and “outbreak.”
Easily confused with typhoid
Typhoid is enteric fever caused by Salmonella Typhi, whereas typhus refers to a different group of infections caused by Rickettsia bacteria.