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

Concerned, the Brooklyn-native returned to his primary care provider but was immediately sent to the emergency room to receive antiviral treatment through an IV. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025

There is no cure for hepatitis B, but certain medications, like antiviral drugs, can make the virus inactive. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Noun

Antimicrobials include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics—all used to prevent and treat infectious disease. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Antibiotics are part of a wider group of medicines called antimicrobials, which also include antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 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