monkeypox

noun

mon·​key·​pox ˈməŋ-kē-ˌpäks How to pronounce monkeypox (audio)
: mpox

Note: This disease was first identified in monkeys in 1958, although the natural reservoir (see reservoir sense 3a) has not been identified. The virus has been found in various animals including rodents and primates.

Note: As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the name mpox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.

Examples of monkeypox 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.
But the name monkeypox stuck until 2022, when the virus took off globally. — Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 12 Sep. 2025 In 2022, Florida was part of a nationwide outbreak of monkeypox. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025 The federal government's disease-tracking agency has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox and a number of other infectious diseases. — CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 The federal government’s disease-tracking agency has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox and a number of other infectious diseases. — CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monkeypox

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monkeypox was in 1960

Rhymes for monkeypox

See All Rhymes for monkeypox

Browse Nearby Words

monkey pot
monkeypox
monkey puzzle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

monkeypox

noun
mon·​key·​pox ˈməŋ-kē-ˌpäks How to pronounce monkeypox (audio)
: mpox

Note: As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the name mpox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.

More from Merriam-Webster on monkeypox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monkeypox

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All