Definition

A type of bacterium that causes the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea.

Example

The doctor tested for gonococcus to determine the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Conversation

Have you heard about gonococcus bacteria that cause gonorrhea?

Yeah, I read it's pretty common and can be serious if untreated.

Exactly! It’s surprising how many people don’t know about gonococcus.

True, education is key to preventing its spread.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gonococcus → It is formed from "gono-" (from Greek "gōnē", meaning seed or generation) and "coccus" (from Greek "kokkos", meaning berry or grain). The word refers to a spherical bacterium that causes gonorrhea, relating to its reproductive implications.

Memory Tip

Think of 'gono-' as relating to 'generation' or 'seed', and 'coccus' as a 'berry' shape — this helps you remember that gonococcus is a bacterium associated with reproduction.

Visually Confused Words