adenovirus

noun

ad·​e·​no·​vi·​rus ˌa-də-nō-ˈvī-rəs How to pronounce adenovirus (audio)
: any of a family (Adenoviridae) of double-stranded DNA viruses originally identified in human adenoid tissue, causing infections of the respiratory system, conjunctiva, and gastrointestinal tract, and including some capable of inducing malignant tumors in experimental animals
adenoviral
ˌa-də-nō-ˈvī-rəl How to pronounce adenovirus (audio)
adjective

Examples of adenovirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Maybe a reaction to the adenovirus was causing immune cells to mistakenly go after a blood component and precipitate clotting. — Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026 Wu said more than a dozen viruses are circulating, including adenoviruses and pertussis, which has caused outbreaks and fatalities in other parts of the country. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026 The vaccine uses a different virus, an adenovirus, to deliver genetic instructions to train the immune system to recognize the Ebola virus protein. — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 26 May 2026 Another concern is deer adenovirus, a respiratory disease that causes hemorrhaging. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adenovirus

Word History

Etymology

aden(oid) entry 2 + -o- + virus

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adenovirus was in 1950

Rhymes for adenovirus

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Browse Nearby Words

adenotrophic
adenovirus
Aden ulcer
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Cite this Entry

“Adenovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adenovirus. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

adenovirus

noun
ad·​e·​no·​vi·​rus ˌad-ᵊn-ō-ˈvī-rəs How to pronounce adenovirus (audio)
: any of the family Adenoviridae of double-stranded DNA viruses
adenoviral
-rəl How to pronounce adenovirus (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on adenovirus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adenovirus

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