antiviral

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​vi·​ral ˌan-tē-ˈvī-rəl How to pronounce antiviral (audio)
ˌan-tī-
1
medical : acting, effective, or directed against viruses
an antiviral vaccine/drug
2
: used to protect a computer from viruses : antivirus
antiviral software

antiviral

2 of 2

noun

: an antiviral agent and especially a drug
antivirals used in treating influenza

Examples of antiviral 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.
Adjective
There is no antiviral treatment for chikungunya, but some patients may see a joint specialist who can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025 There’s no antiviral treatment for West Nile virus, but mild symptoms can be managed at home with over-the-counter medications, according to Cleveland Clinic. Evan Moore july 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2025
Noun
There is a highly effective vaccine that prevents measles but no specific antiviral to treat it. Brenda Goodman and Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025 Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics, antivirals, or corticosteroids to clear the infection and manage symptoms.6 How Long Does COVID Affect the Ears? Mark Gurarie, Health, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antiviral

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antiviral was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Antiviral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiviral. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Medical Definition

antiviral

1 of 2 adjective
an·​ti·​vi·​ral -ˈvi-rəl How to pronounce antiviral (audio)
variants also antivirus
: acting, effective, or directed against viruses
antiviral drugs

antiviral

2 of 2 noun
: an antiviral agent and especially a drug
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!