chlamydia

C3H4L1A1M3Y4D2I1A1
/kləˈmɪd.i.ə/

noun

Any of several common, often asymptomatic, sexually transmitted diseases caused by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.

OriginNew Latin chlamydia ← Ancient Greek χλαμύδιον →
Less commonScrabble 20
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Word of the Day · Aug 22, 2026

Meanings

nounchlamydia (countable and uncountable, plural chlamydias or chlamydiae)

plural chlamydias · plural chlamydiae

  1. uncountableAny of several common, often asymptomatic, sexually transmitted diseases caused by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.

    That makes sense, because we’re all looking for flowery language from our physicians. “Like the sunlight shines upon the hidden grassy meadow, so does chlamydia cast a warm glow upon your private parts.”

    2014, Tim Carvell [et al.], “Dr. Oz and Nutritional Supplements”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 1, episode 8, John Oliver (actor), Warner Bros. Television, via HBO
  2. countableAny of various coccoid microorganisms of the genus Chlamydia that are pathogenic to humans and other animals.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
chlamydiosis

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekχλαμύδιον“small cloak”
  2. New Latinchlamydia
  3. Englishchlamydia

From New Latin chlamydia, from Ancient Greek χλαμύδιον (khlamúdion, “small cloak”), from χλαμύς (khlamús, “cloak”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 衣原菌, 衣原體 /衣原体
  • 衣原菌 (yīyuánjūn)sexually transmitted disease
  • 衣原體 /衣原体 (yīyuántǐ)sexually transmitted disease
  • 披衣菌 (pīyījūn)sexually transmitted disease
Danish klamydia
  • klamydiasexually transmitted disease
Esperanto klamidio
  • klamidiosexually transmitted disease
Estonian klamüüdia
  • klamüüdiasexually transmitted disease
Finnish klamydia
  • klamydiasexually transmitted disease
French chlamydia
  • chlamydiasexually transmitted disease
German Chlamydien
  • Chlamydiensexually transmitted disease
Greek χλαμύδια
  • χλαμύδια (chlamýdia)sexually transmitted disease
Indonesian klamidia
  • klamidiasexually transmitted disease
Italian clamidia
  • clamidiasexually transmitted disease
Japanese クラミジア
  • クラミジア (kuramijia)sexually transmitted disease
Latin chlamydia
  • chlamydiasexually transmitted disease
Māori kōtureture
  • kōtureturesexually transmitted disease
Norwegian klamydia
  • klamydiasexually transmitted disease
Polish chlamydia
  • chlamydiasexually transmitted disease
Portuguese clamídia
  • clamídiasexually transmitted disease
Russian хлами́дия
  • хлами́дия (xlamídija)sexually transmitted disease
Spanish clamidia
  • clamidiasexually transmitted disease
Swahili klamidia
  • klamidiasexually transmitted disease
Swedish klamydia
  • klamydiasexually transmitted disease
Turkish klamidya
  • klamidyasexually transmitted disease

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with chlamydia

lydia
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

chlamydia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chlamydia

MLA

“chlamydia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chlamydia. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chlamydia,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chlamydia.

Source: chlamydia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.