antiviral

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​vi·​ral ˌan-tē-ˈvī-rəl 

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

Adjective

She was treated with oseltamivir, an antiviral drug, the following day. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, in collaboration with a Finnish team, have explored an unusual but promising solution: chewing gum infused with antiviral compounds. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Noun

The cancelations included nine grants that were part of a multidisciplinary research program that was developing COVID-19 antivirals, especially those that could be delivered to outpatients, as well as other drugs targeting viruses that could cause a pandemic in the future. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Treatment depends on the cause and often involves antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for viral causes, or antifungal medications in fungal cases. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antiviral

• retroviral
• adenoviral
• antiretroviral
• chiral
• spiral
• viral

Medical Definition

antiviral

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​vi·​ral -ˈvi-rəl 

variants also antivirus

-rəs 

: acting, effective, or directed against viruses

antiviral drugs

antiviral

2 of 2 noun

: an antiviral agent and especially a drug