coronavirus

noun

co·ro·na·vi·rus | \ kə-ˈrō-nə-ˌvī-rəs

plural coronaviruses

Definition of coronavirus

1 : any of a family (Coronaviridae) of large single-stranded RNA viruses that have a lipid envelope studded with club-shaped spike proteins, infect birds and many mammals including humans, and include the causative agents of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19 Coronaviruses can cause a variety of illnesses in animals, but in people coronaviruses cause one-third of common colds and sometimes respiratory infections in premature infants.— Rob Stein … in 2003 a previously unknown coronavirus caused an outbreak of SARS in humans.— Ali Moh Zaki et al. —abbreviation CoV, CV

2 : an illness caused by a coronavirus especially : covid-19 Italy has seen the most coronavirus cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 people ill and 76 deaths associated with COVID-19. — Dayton (Ohio) Daily News —abbreviation CV

More Example Sentences Phrases Containing coronavirus Learn More About coronavirus

Examples of coronavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Last year, commencement also included 2020 graduates whose ceremony had been postponed because of the emergency coronavirus restrictions. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2022 Amazon has been easing its coronavirus restrictions at its warehouses for the past several months, after ramping up safety policies in the early months of the pandemic. — Washington Post, 5 May 2022 Weaver said DeWine’s coronavirus restrictions, while unpopular among many on the right, weren’t as severe as what governors in some other states did. — Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, 4 May 2022 With that wave fading, most U.S. cities have relaxed coronavirus restrictions, even as experts warn that a more transmissible subvariant has become the dominant strain. — Emily Hopkins, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2022 Apologizing profusely for his recent police fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions, Mr. Johnson tried to move on from a scandal over illicit Downing Street parties that has threatened his hold on power. — New York Times, 19 Apr. 2022 Nonetheless, the latest estimates suggest that the steep climb in new infections since late February, when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapped all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England, has continued well into March. — Sylvia Hui, chicagotribune.com, 2 Apr. 2022 Nonetheless, the latest estimates suggest that the steep climb in new infections since late February, when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapped all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England, has continued well into March. — NBC News, 2 Apr. 2022 Nonetheless, the latest estimates suggest that the steep climb in new infections since late February, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapped all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England, continued well into March. — Sylvia Hui, ajc, 2 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coronavirus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for coronavirus

corona + virus, later taken as New Latin

Note: The word was introduced by a group of virologists as a short article "Coronaviruses" in the "News and Views" section of Nature (vol. 220, no. 5168, November 16, 1968, p. 650): "… avian infectious bronchitis virus has a characteristic electron microscopic appearance resembling, but distinct from, that of myxoviruses. Particles are more or less rounded in profile … there is also a characteristic 'fringe' of projections 200 Å long, which are rounded or petal shaped, rather than sharp or pointed, as in the myxoviruses. This appearance, recalling the solar corona, is shared by mouse hepatitis virus … . In the opinion of the eight virologists these viruses are members of a previously unrecognized group which they suggest should be called the coronaviruses, to recall the characteristic appearance by which these viruses are identified in the electron microscope."

Learn More About coronavirus

From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries Near coronavirus

coronation oath

coronavirus

coronavirus disease 2019

Statistics for coronavirus

Last Updated

13 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Coronavirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coronavirus. Accessed 21 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for coronavirus

coronavirus

noun

co·ro·na·vi·rus | \ kə-ˈrō-nə-ˌvī-rəs

Medical Definition of coronavirus

1 : any of a family (Coronaviridae) of large, single-stranded, RNA viruses that have a lipid envelope studded with club-shaped spike proteins , infect birds and many mammals including humans, and include the causative agents of blue comb, feline infectious peritonitis, COVID-19, MERS, and SARS Coronaviruses can cause a variety of illnesses in animals, but in people coronaviruses cause one-third of common colds and sometimes respiratory infections in premature infants.— Rob Stein, The Washington Post —abbreviation CoV, CV