human papillomavirus

noun

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of human papillomavirus

: 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

Recent Examples of human papillomavirus from the Web

Oftentimes, cancer is caused by infectious viruses such as hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, which can be prevented with a vaccine.

— molly sullivan, sacbee, "How do you get a skeptical patient to test for cancer? UCD, health center target cultural barriers," 2 June 2018
Since 2006, the vaccine for human papillomavirus — the leading cause of a number of cancers — has been available.

— anna groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Want to prevent your children from getting cancer? Doctors push HPV vaccine," 9 July 2018
More than 100 different strains of the human papillomavirus have been identified.

— ashley andreou, STAT, "New Gardasil ad campaign gets it (mostly) right. It shouldn’t have taken a decade," 18 June 2018
While clicking through Snapchat the other day, an ad for Merck’s new Versed campaign for Gardasil, its vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), stopped my thumb in its tracks.

— ashley andreou, STAT, "New Gardasil ad campaign gets it (mostly) right. It shouldn’t have taken a decade," 18 June 2018
Colorectal cancer has not been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause anal cancer, as well as cervical, throat, penile and other types of cancer.

— author: laurie mcginley, Anchorage Daily News, "Colorectal cancer screening should start at age 45, American Cancer Society says," 30 May 2018
Colorectal cancer has not been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause anal cancer, as well as cervical, throat, penile, and other types of cancer.

— laurie mcginley, BostonGlobe.com, "Colorectal cancer screening should start at age 45, not 50, American Cancer Society says," 30 May 2018
Journal retracts paper claiming neurological damage from HPV vaccine Scientific Reports retracted a controversial paper claiming to show that mice given a human papillomavirus vaccine showed signs of neurological damage.

— katie langin, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: HPV vaccine debate, 2000-year-old pollution, and a lawmaker’s views on sea level rise," 18 May 2018
The latter, human papillomavirus, is an S.T.D. that causes genital warts and, in some cases, cervical cancer.

— bess levin, The Hive, "Bill Gates: Trump Is Even Dumber Than You Thought," 18 May 2018

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

First Known Use of human papillomavirus

1952

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

human papillomavirus

noun

medical Definition of human papillomavirus

: a double-stranded DNA virus of the genus Papillomavirus (species Human papillomavirus) that has numerous genotypes causing various human warts (as the common warts of the extremities, plantar warts, and genital warts) including some associated with the production of cervical cancer — called also HPV