RSV
1 of 2abbreviation or noun
plural RSVs
: respiratory syncytial virus
Like many viruses, RSV is spread through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects.—
Nancy Snyderman
Nancy SnydermanRSV, a common respiratory illness that can cause severe breathing problems for babies, has been spreading around the region and the country, and doctors are cautioning about the risks to young children.—Josette Keelor
Josette KeelorRSVs typically emerge in late fall and remain until early spring. However, signs of RSV outbreak began in the middle of April before exponentially increasing by early May.—Winston Henvey
Winston HenveyExamples of RSV in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Like the flu, RSV is also starting to increase, primarily in the pediatric population, Starnes and Byrd said.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Dec. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant people get an RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during the period from September through January.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Dec. 2025
Reducing risk for infants Two or three out of every 100 infants under 6 months old are hospitalized with RSV annually, according to federal estimates.
—Reuters 2 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for RSV
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Abbreviation or noun
Liam — who had a high fever of 102° and an elevated heart rate — tested negative for RSV, the flu, and Covid-19, but his condition quickly began to decline.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Like the flu, RSV is also starting to increase, primarily in the pediatric population, Starnes and Byrd said.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Dec. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant people get an RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during the period from September through January.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Dec. 2025
Reducing risk for infants Two or three out of every 100 infants under 6 months old are hospitalized with RSV annually, according to federal estimates.
—Reuters 2 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for RSV
Cite this Entry
“RSV.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RSV. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
RSV
1 of 2 abbreviation or noun
: respiratory syncytial virus
Long considered primarily a pathogen of young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been recognized as a cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults.—Harvey B. Simon, Science & Medicine
Harvey B. Simon, Science & MedicineHowever, upper respiratory tract infections caused by RSV tend to last longer than those caused by other common respiratory agents …—Caroline Breese, The New England Journal of Medicine
Caroline Breese, The New England Journal of MedicineRSV
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