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

And to boost the body’s immune response, it is added to some vaccines—such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV) and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), as well as some combination vaccines that protect against polio. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2025

In May 2024, Modu helped launch Borno’s first immunization campaign to vaccinate adolescent girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), the pathogen that causes nearly all cervical cancers. —Adiel Kaplan, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

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

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