Pyrexia Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

pyrexia

noun

py·​rex·​ia pī-ˈrek-sē-ə How to pronounce pyrexia (audio)
: abnormal elevation of body temperature : fever
pyrexial adjective
pyrexic adjective

Examples of pyrexia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These included injection site reactions, headache, pyrexia (fever), fatigue, back pain, myalgia and rash. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2021 According to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus resource, a fever (aka, pyrexia) is technically a higher-than-normal body temperature. Leah Groth, Health.com, 2 Apr. 2020 For many of these reactions, the FDA database uses medical terminology, such as pyrexia and dyspnoea for fever and labored breathing, respectively. Ajc Homepage, ajc, 24 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pyrexia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pyressein to be feverish, from pyretos

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyrexia was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near pyrexia

Cite this Entry

“Pyrexia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrexia. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

pyrexia

noun
py·​rex·​ia pī-ˈrek-sē-ə How to pronounce pyrexia (audio)
: abnormal elevation of body temperature : fever

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