smallpox

noun

small·​pox ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks How to pronounce smallpox (audio)
: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus (Orthopoxvirus variola), is characterized by a skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and has been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination

called also variola

Examples of smallpox in a Sentence

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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.
The problem was that the people who entered this Paradise brought venereal disease and smallpox, to which the Polynesians had no resistance. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026 This was driven in part by concern over the prevalence of diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis, and cholera. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 In Chile, researchers recently discovered ancient smallpox DNA in two centuries-old mummies, providing the first genetic evidence of the disease in that region of South America. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 For example, in 1894, Massachusetts created a public drug manufacturer and research lab known as MassBiologics, which has produced vaccines for smallpox, tetanus, typhoid, and pertussis, among other biologic products. — Joel Dodge, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smallpox

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smallpox was circa 1562

Rhymes for smallpox

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Browse Nearby Words

small potatoes
smallpox
smallpox plant
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Cite this Entry

“Smallpox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smallpox. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

smallpox

noun
small·​pox ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks How to pronounce smallpox (audio)
: a sometimes deadly disease that is caused by a virus, is characterized by fever and a skin rash, and is believed to have been wiped out worldwide as a result of vaccination

Medical Definition

smallpox

noun
small·​pox ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks How to pronounce smallpox (audio)
: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus (Orthopoxvirus variola), is characterized by skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and has been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination

called also variola

see variola major, variola minor

More from Merriam-Webster on smallpox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about smallpox

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