Definition

Noun: A specific type of bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. It is characterized by its tendency to appear in pairs (diplococci) and its association with pus formation.

Usage

The term "gonococcus" is used primarily in medical and microbiological contexts to refer to the infectious agent itself. It is a technical term. - The laboratory test confirmed the presence of gonococcus in the sample. - Antibiotic resistance in the gonococcus is a growing public health concern.

Advanced Usage

• "Gonococcal" (adjective): Pertaining to or caused by the gonococcus.
  • The patient was treated for a gonococcal infection.
• The plural form is gonococci.

Variants and Related Words

• Gonorrhea (noun): The disease caused by the gonococcus.
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae (noun): The formal, scientific name for the gonococcus.

Synonyms

• (scientific name)
• GC (common medical abbreviation)

Notes

"Gonococcus" is a compound word derived from "gonorrhea" and "coccus" (a spherical bacterium). It refers strictly to the bacterium, not the disease.

Noun

1. the pus-producing bacterium that causes gonorrhea