human papillomavirus

noun

: any of numerous papillomaviruses (as of the genera Alphapapillomavirus, Betapapillomavirus, and Gammapapillomavirus) that cause various human papillomas (such as genital warts and plantar warts) and include some associated with the production of human cancer

—abbreviation HPV

Examples of human papillomavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This fall saw Pakistan's first-ever campaign to administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects girls from cervical cancer. —NPR, 9 Nov. 2025

But the real kicker is that understanding how CRPV worked in rabbits helped scientists figure out how certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause cervical cancer. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025

Among the most widespread ones are human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia and syphilis, with gonorrhea also ranking high on the list. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025

For example, a range of different infectious pathogens and diseases can lead to different chronic medical conditions such as COVID-19 leading to long COVID, human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, Helicobacter pylori to stomach ulcers and cancer, Epstein-Barr Virus to lymphoma. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for human papillomavirus

• adenovirus
• baculovirus
• coronavirus
• enterovirus
• poliovirus
• antivirus
• herpesvirus
• parvovirus
• reovirus
• retrovirus
• rhinovirus
• rotavirus

Medical Definition

human papillomavirus

noun

: any of numerous papillomaviruses (genera Alphapapillomavirus, Betapapillomavirus, Gammapapillomavirus, Mupapillomavirus, and Nupapillomavirus) that cause various human papillomas (such as plantar warts and genital warts) including some associated with the production of cervical cancer

called also HPV