rinderpest

noun

rin·​der·​pest ˈrin-dər-ˌpest 

: an acute infectious disease of ruminant mammals (such as cattle) that is caused by a paramyxovirus (Morbillivirus pecoris) and that is marked by fever, diarrhea, and inflammation of mucous membranes and by high mortality in epidemics

Examples of rinderpest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers suggest that a rinderpest epidemic (an infectious viral disease that affects cattle) had decimated local herbivore populations, leaving them with fewer prey options. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

Another possibility is that the lions were simply hungry because much of their normal prey had been wiped out by rinderpest. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024

Outbreaks of rinderpest, a disease that struck livestock and grazing animals, decimated wildebeest populations in East Africa until the disease was eradicated there in the 1960s (it has since been eradicated worldwide). — Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 18 July 2011

Word History

Etymology

German, from Rinder, plural, cattle + Pest pestilence

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

rinderpest

noun

rin·​der·​pest ˈrin-dər-ˌpest 

: an acute infectious usually fatal disease of ruminant animals (such as cattle) that is caused by a paramyxovirus (Morbillivirus pecoris), is marked by fever, diarrhea, and inflammation of mucous membranes, and has been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination

called also cattle plague