rabies

noun

ra·​bies ˈrā-bēz 

plural rabies

: an acute viral disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (Lyssavirus rabies) usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and that is characterized typically by increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and eventual paralysis and death when untreated

Examples of rabies in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nancy adds that her family didn't know that the community was dropping the rabies baits, and didn't receive any mailers about the drop. —Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025

After a rabies exposure, people should seek immediate preventative medical care, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and receiving a rabies vaccination. —Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025

The owner of the attacking dog showed police documentation for rabies. —cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023

The same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention temporarily suspended the importation of dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies. —Andrea Sachs, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, madness, from rabere to rave — more at rage

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rabies

• anti-rabies

Rhymes for rabies

• abies
• babies
• pseudorabies

Kids Definition

rabies

noun

ra·​bies ˈrā-bēz 

: a disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a virus usually passed on by the bite of an animal already infected with it and is always deadly if untreated

Medical Definition

rabies

noun

ra·​bies ˈrā-bēz 

plural rabies

: an acute viral disease of the central nervous system of mammals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (Lyssavirus rabies) transmitted in infected saliva usually through the bite of a rabid animal and that is typically characterized by fatigue, headache, fever, and general discomfort progressing to increased salivation, excitability, confusion, muscle weakness and spasms, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, paralysis, coma, and death

Note: Rabies has a long incubation period that averages several weeks but may be as long as several years. Once the symptoms appear, rabies is typically untreatable and fatal. If received soon after the bite of a rabid animal, treatment is usually effective and involves administration of immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections.

called also hydrophobia