prion disease

noun

: any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Examples of prion disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This rare and genetic prion disease claimed her mother’s life when Lenox and her brother Kip (Logan Miller) were very young. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025 Bovine collagen is regulated for quality and to prevent prion disease risks, so sourcing from reputable manufacturers is important.2 Ultimately, both types of collagen offer meaningful benefits. T'keyah Bazin, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2025 Another prion disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), has a similar name but is a different, much rarer, disease, according to the Center of Disease Control. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025 To date, there are no known incidents of people acquiring a prion disease by consuming deer, elk or moose meat, said Geschwind, the UCSF professor. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prion disease

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prion disease was in 1986

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Cite this Entry

“Prion disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prion%20disease. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

prion disease

noun
: any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused and transmitted by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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