oncovirus
noun
on·co·vi·rus
ˈäŋ-kō-ˌvī-rəs 
: any virus that infects healthy cells, alters the regulatory processes, and transforms them into cancer cells in humans and other animals and that includes some lentiviruses (such as simian virus 40), papillomaviruses (such as human papillomavirus), and herpesviruses (such as Epstein-Barr virus)
Cite this Entry
“Oncovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/oncovirus. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share