cholera
n. uncountablen. a serious disease that causes severe stomach problems and dehydration. People usually catch it from drinking dirty water or eating contaminated food.
n. an acute infectious disease of the small intestine, typically transmitted through contaminated water supplies. Characterised by severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and rapid dehydration.
The city improved its water system to prevent cholera.
After the earthquake, aid workers focused on providing clean water to stop the spread of cholera in the camps.
Historical accounts of the 19th-century cholera pandemics highlight how the lack of modern sanitation allowed the bacteria to decimate urban populations within weeks of the first reported case.
From Latin cholera (“bilious disease”), from Ancient Greek χολέρα (kholéra, “cholera”). Doublet of choler.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Uncountable when referring to the disease itself; can be countable when referring to specific outbreaks or strains.
Last updated May 7, 2026