Have you ever realized that there seem to be two different spellings of mucus? Did you get tripped up on trying to use it in a sentence and didn’t know which one was right or if they both were right? It actually turns out that mucus and mucous are both spelled correctly but are different words. One is an adjective and the other is a noun, be sure to read on to figure out which one is which and learn as much as you would ever want to learn about mucus.

What Is the Definition of the Word Mucus?

Let’s start by describing what mucus and mucous are and the definition of the word in its different forms.

Adjective Mucous

pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling mucus in the human body.
containing or secreting mucus.

Noun Mucus

a viscous, slimy mixture of mucins, water, electrolytes, enzymes, glycoproteins, epithelial cells, and white blood cells that is secreted by mucous glands lining the nasal, sinus, gastric, esophageal, and other body cavities and serves primarily to protect and lubricate surfaces. Mucous cells are involved in the immune system, the gastrointestinal/digestive system, and the respiratory system/respiratory tract. Allergens as well as pathogens can contribute to mucus production in the form of nasal mucus that can contribute to a runny nose or a cough with phlegm in the throat.

What Is the Difference Between Mucus and Mucous?

Mucus is the noun whereas mucous is the adjective describing things pertaining to mucus. Many people will misspell mucus by spelling mucous when they are using it as a noun. Modern technology doesn’t help this since everyone relies on spell check to help aid them with their spelling and mucous is a word but it is an adjective.

The History and Origin of the Word

The word mucus can be traced back to 1655. The use of the word was originally in Latin and meant snot. This was similar to the Greek word mykter which meant nose and myxa which meant slime.

Examples of the Words in Context

Mucus

It would be similar to smoking, only less…and you might get a chronic cough, or raise a little [mucus].
- E-CIGARETTES: THE SIDE EFFECTS NOBODY TALKS ABOUT|DAILYBURN|SEPTEMBER 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Plummer found the film so saccharine that he even developed a nickname for it: “The Sound of Mucus.”
- JIM CARREY’S RANT AGAINST ‘KICK-ASS 2’ AND 13 OTHER STARS WHO HATE THEIR OWN FILMS|MARLOW STERN|JUNE 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The announcer said brightly, “She is completely effaced right now, and she just lost her mucus plug.”
- EXCLUSIVE: THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH (VIDEO)|RACHEL GRADY|SEPTEMBER 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A sufficient amount of mucus or fecal matter will usually be brought away by it.
- A MANUAL OF CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS|JAMES CAMPBELL TODD
The presence of mucus or of mucus tinged with blood in the stools shows the predominance of colitis.
- A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE BY AMERICAN AUTHORS, VOL. II|VARIOUS
An inflammation of a mucous membrane, usually attended with an increased secretion of mucus.
- A PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY|ALBERT F. BLAISDELL
As might be expected from the nature of the disease, the secretion of mucus from the intestinal surface is augmented.
- A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE BY AMERICAN AUTHORS, VOL. II|VARIOUS
Blenny, blen′ni, n. a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, covered with mucus or slimy matter.
- CHAMBERS’S TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY (PART 1 OF 4: A-D)|VARIOUS

Mucous

Traveling through the bodily fluids of an infected person, Ebola enters through a mucous membrane or break in the skin.
- BLOOD IS EBOLA’S WEAPON AND WEAKNESS|ABBY HAGLAGE|OCTOBER 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A simple hypermia of the mucous membrane may cause sufficient obstruction of the bile-ducts to give rise to jaundice.
- A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE BY AMERICAN AUTHORS, VOL. II|VARIOUS
Of all the symptoms of measles, the catarrh of the mucous membranes is undoubtedly the most pathognomonic.
- A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE BY AMERICAN AUTHORS, VOL. I|VARIOUS
It also affects parts covered by mucous membrane, such as the cheek, tongue, and soft palate.
- MANUAL OF SURGERY|ALEXIS THOMSON AND ALEXANDER MILES
An inflammation of a mucous membrane, usually attended with an increased secretion of mucus.
- A PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY|ALBERT F. BLAISDELL
In the ileum the mucous folds are obliterated or swollen and thickened.
- A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE BY AMERICAN AUTHORS, VOL. II|VARIOUS

Synonyms of Mucus

Sludge
- mud, mire, or ooze; slush.
- a deposit of ooze at the bottom of a body of water.
- any of various more or less mudlike deposits or mixtures.
- the sediment in a steam boiler or water tank.
- broken ice, as on the sea.
- a mixture of some finely powdered substance and water.
Mud
- wet, soft earth or earthy matter, as on the ground after rain, at the bottom of a pond, or along the banks of a river; mire.
- Informal. scandalous or malicious assertions or information:
- The opposition threw a lot of mud at our candidate.
- Slang. brewed coffee, especially when strong or bitter.
Goo
- a thick or sticky substance:
  - Wash that goo off your hands.
Gunk
- any sticky or greasy residue or accumulation:
  - gunk on the oil filter.
Saliva
- a viscid, watery fluid, that the body produces in the mouth by the salivary glands, that functions in the tasting, chewing, and swallowing of food, moistens the mouth, and starts the digestion of starches.

Summary

Now you probably know more than you ever wanted to know about mucous and a lot of trivia/facts about the word.

Sources:

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

Mucus vs Mucous: What’s The Difference?

Your writing, at its best

What Is the Definition of the Word Mucus?

What Is the Difference Between Mucus and Mucous?

The History and Origin of the Word

Examples of the Words in Context

Synonyms of Mucus

Summary

Sources:

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