hepatitis C

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (Hepacivirus hominis), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (such as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Examples of hepatitis C in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And, the most common causes of cirrhosis are chronic hepatitis C, chronic alcoholism and long-term, heavy drinking. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Remdesivir is an anti-viral medication that targets a broad range of viruses, including COVID-19, hepatitis C, Marburg and Ebola viruses. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Diversion has been linked to at least 13 disease outbreaks — causing more than 200 infections, mostly of hepatitis C — since 1985, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Brett Kelman, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Less than a decade ago, high prices similarly slowed the uptake of hepatitis C antivirals. — Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hepatitis C

• actuary
• antiquary
• bolsheviki
• bronchoscopy
• calliope
• chelicerae
• colposcopy
• covenantee
• cruciferae
• cystoscopy
• diastole
• distributee

Medical Definition

hepatitis C

noun

-ˈsē 

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (Hepacivirus hominis), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.