Definition

A medical condition where the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed, causing coughing and difficulty breathing.

Example

After catching a cold, she developed bronchitis and had to see a doctor.

Conversation

I heard you were sick last week; what happened?

I got diagnosed with bronchitis, and it really knocked me out.

Oh no, that's rough! How are you feeling now?

Much better, thanks! Just taking it easy to recover fully.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bronchitis is formed from "bronchus" (from Greek "bronchos", meaning windpipe or airway) and "-itis" (from Greek "itis", meaning inflammation). The word describes the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the air passages that lead from the trachea to the lungs.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bronchus' as the airway that is 'inflamed' ('-itis') when someone has bronchitis.

Visually Confused Words