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 newest shots target an omicron variant named XBB.1.5. —Wire Services, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023

But just as preproduction kicked into gear in South Africa, the omicron variant reared up and forced scouting to end. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023

That last happened when the omicron variant was named in November 2021. —Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2023

Now, with the latest omicron variant, XBB, fueling a resurgence in cases, the response from China’s government and the public is muted at best. —Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC News, 25 May 2023

At the same time, vaccines and past waves have given many people lasting protection against the worst outcomes of an infection, and the now-dominant omicron variant appears to cause less-severe disease than those that came before. —Matthew Griffin, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2023

The strains are cousins of the omicron variant, which wreaked havoc on North Texas hospitals for months. —Marin Wolf, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2023

The advisory noted the supply of such treatments was limited as COVID-19 cases surged with the rise of the omicron variant. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023

The buddies hosted the network’s New Year’s Eve special as 2020 turned into 2021, and would have again the following year — except the omicron variant of COVID-19 scrapped those plans. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 11 Aug. 2023

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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