smallpox

noun

small·​pox ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks 

: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus (species Variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus), is characterized by a skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and is believed to have been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination

called also variola

Examples of smallpox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1828, the French hospital system alone prescribed tens of millions of leeches, for conditions ranging from insomnia to smallpox. —Zoey Poll, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

Faces in the crowd could be spotted with smallpox scars. —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2024

At the time, compared to polio and smallpox, measles was considered a milder disease, but riding a wave of success from those immunization efforts, the federal government launched a vaccine push to eradicate measles and by 1969, cases had fallen dramatically. —Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2024

He was blinded at four by smallpox and, as a non-believer in a believing time and place, lived alone in a cave. —Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024

The initiative came just three decades after Edward Jenner’s discovery of a method to immunize against smallpox. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Dec. 2023

Some of these viruses have been known for centuries, such as polio and smallpox, while others like Alaskapox have only recently emerged. —Raúl Rivas González, Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024

The most well known of these is variola, or smallpox, a frequently fatal scourge that is one of the deadliest diseases in human history and is still the only human disease to have ever been eradicated. —Robert Hart, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

Peale didn’t omit Washington’s smallpox scars from his left cheek. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 27 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

smallpox

noun

small·​pox ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks 

: 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 

: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus of the genus Orthopoxvirus (species Variola virus), is characterized by skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and is believed to have been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination

called also variola

see variola major, variola minor