hepatitis

noun

hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-təs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio)
plural hepatitides ˌhe-pə-ˈti-tə-ˌdēz How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) also hepatitises ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-tə-səz How to pronounce hepatitis (audio)
1
: inflammation of the liver
2
: a disease or condition (such as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver

Did you know?

The liver, the body's largest gland, performs many important tasks, but is also vulnerable to many illnesses. At least five types of hepatitis, labeled with the letters A–E, are caused by viruses. The most common are hepatitis A, acquired through contaminated food and water; hepatitis B, which usually travels via sexual activity or shared needles; and hepatitis C, generally passed through shared needles. Some other types, including alcoholic hepatitis (caused by drinking too much alcohol), aren't infectious. There are vaccines for types A and B, and drug treatments for A, B, and C, though the drugs aren't always effective.

Examples of hepatitis 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.
Officials announced the compensation plans a day after the publication of a report that found civil servants and doctors exposed patients to unacceptable risks by giving them blood transfusions or blood products tainted with HIV or hepatitis from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Sylvia Hui, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2024 Selenium Research shows that a selenium deficiency is likely in people with chronic liver diseases like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024 All hepatitis viruses can cause serious inflammation of the liver. Wendy Wisner, Health, 31 Oct. 2024 Bell remembered taking calls from workers who had been poisoned by pesticides or who wanted to expose an outbreak of hepatitis at work. Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hepatitis 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hepatitis was circa 1751

Dictionary Entries Near hepatitis

Cite this Entry

“Hepatitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatitis. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hepatitis

noun
hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhep-ə-ˈtīt-əs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio)
plural hepatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) also hepatitises
-ˈtīt-ə-səz
: inflammation of the liver
also : any of several virus diseases marked especially by inflammation of the liver

Medical Definition

hepatitis

noun
hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhep-ə-ˈtīt-əs How to pronounce hepatitis (audio)
plural hepatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce hepatitis (audio) also hepatitises
-ˈtīt-ə-səz
1
: inflammation of the liver
2
: a disease or condition (as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver
hepatitic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hepatitis

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