reverse transcriptase

noun

: a polymerase especially of retroviruses that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

Examples of reverse transcriptase 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.
At a lab, a technician performs a test often used for flu – a RT-PCR, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. — Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 24 Mar. 2020 The medications target a unique enzyme in HIV called reverse transcriptase, which then prevents the virus from replicating and infecting cells in the body, Alan explains. — Korin Miller, Health.com, 9 Dec. 2021 One promising approach involves repurposing reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a class of drugs originally developed to treat HIV. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025 To make cDNA, researchers take a cell's messenger RNA and, with the help of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, replicate the sequence with DNA's building blocks. — Lisa Raffensperger, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2013 The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses. — Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 6 May 2021 Viral Detection To determine whether a nasopharyngeal sample is positive for the coronavirus, biotechnicians use a technique known as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR. — Jim Daley, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2020 For example, Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) associated with nephrotoxicity. — Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverse transcriptase was in 1971

Rhymes for reverse transcriptase

See All Rhymes for reverse transcriptase

Browse Nearby Words

reverse the charges
reverse transcriptase
reverse transcription
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reverse transcriptase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20transcriptase. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

reverse transcriptase

noun
: a polymerase especially of retroviruses that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

More from Merriam-Webster on reverse transcriptase

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reverse transcriptase

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