omicron variant

noun

variants or less commonly Omicron variant

: an extremely transmissible genetic variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

Although the omicron variant has now surpassed delta in the region, hospitals like St. Luke's are likely still treating people who have been infected by the delta variant.

—Kynala Phillips

Florida's rocketing number of COVID-19 cases likely will peak by mid-January as the highly contagious omicron variant potentially infects most of the state's population during this wave alone, according to disease modelers with the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute.

—Daniel Chang

Covid-19 infections in children have typically been mild so far in the pandemic, but the sheer magnitude of cases caused by the very contagious Omicron variant is sending children under age 18 to hospitals in record numbers, according to data from the CDC.

—The East Bay Times (California)

called also omicron

Examples of omicron variant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bivalent shots target both that original strain and the omicron variant. —Nicole Wetsman, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2023

The researchers noted the antibodies against the omicron variant increased significantly. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2024

The new covid vaccines were formulated to target omicron variant XBB.1.5, which was the dominant strain in the U.S. earlier this year, in preparation for the 2023-24 fall and winter season. —Michelle Marchante Miami Herald (tns), arkansasonline.com, 26 Dec. 2023

In early January 2022, when the omicron variant became the dominant strain circulating, more than 4,600 Michiganders were being treated in hospitals statewide with the virus. —Detroit Free Press, 9 Jan. 2024

Reinfection rates were consistently higher throughout the pandemic for people with HIV and were highest during the original omicron variant phase, according to the report. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2023

The omicron variant is like a big family, and its known family members – BA.2, BA.2.86 and XBB.1.5 – are all branches – or lineages and sublineages – on the same tree. —The Conversation, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023

The website for free at-home tests has had an on-and-off presence since the winter of 2022, when the omicron variant was driving cases up across the country. —Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2023

Its findings suggest that a sore throat became more common after the omicron variant grew dominant in late 2021. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 16 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

2021, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

omicron variant

noun

variants also Omicron variant

: an extremely transmissible genetic variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

The push for increased testing comes amid an increase of COVID-19 cases as the omicron variant takes hold.

—Congressional Quarterly Health

The recent onset of the new Omicron variant currently is under investigation to assess its relative infectiousness, severity, and responsiveness to current vaccines and therapeutics.

—Emergency Medicine Reports

called also omicron