popcorn lung

noun

Bronchiolitis obliterans.

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Meanings

nounpopcorn lung (usually uncountable, plural popcorn lungs)

plural popcorn lungs

  1. colloquialuncountableusuallymedicineBronchiolitis obliterans.
  2. colloquialcountablerareusuallymedicineA lung affected by bronchiolitis obliterans.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
bronchiolitis obliterans

Origin

From popcorn + lung. So called because an outbreak at a popcorn factory led to the recommendation of respiratory protection for all workers in microwave popcorn production.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

popcorn lung. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/popcorn%20lung

MLA

“popcorn lung.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/popcorn%20lung. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “popcorn lung,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/popcorn%20lung.

Source: popcorn lung on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.