tetanus

noun/ˈtɛtənəs/

Frequency rank: #14,947 most common English word

Meaning

A serious bacterial infection that causes painful muscle stiffness and spasms, especially in the jaw.

Illustration for the English word “tetanus”

Example sentence

After stepping on a rusty nail, she went to the clinic to get tetanus vaccination.

Synonyms & related words

  • lockjaw

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