rotavirus
noun
ro·ta·vi·rus
ˈrō-tə-ˌvī-rəs 
plural rotaviruses
: any of a genus (Rotavirus) of reoviruses that have a three-layered protein capsid with no outer lipid envelope when mature and that include one (Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children
Examples of rotavirus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The agency recommends vaccinations as the best course of prevention, as there is no treatment for rotavirus.
—
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Doctors are seeing a surge of rotavirus cases and fear that declining vaccination rates could lead to worse outbreaks in the coming years.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
The first rotavirus vaccine was produced in 1998 but later withdrawn because of a rare complication.
—Don Sweeney
april 6, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The decision stops sweeping changes to childhood vaccine recommendations the federal government made in January, including no longer advising all children be vaccinated against the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotavirus
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Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Doctors are seeing a surge of rotavirus cases and fear that declining vaccination rates could lead to worse outbreaks in the coming years.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
The first rotavirus vaccine was produced in 1998 but later withdrawn because of a rare complication.
—Don Sweeney
april 6, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The decision stops sweeping changes to childhood vaccine recommendations the federal government made in January, including no longer advising all children be vaccinated against the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rotavirus
Cite this Entry
“Rotavirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotavirus. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
rotavirus
noun
ro·ta·vi·rus
ˈrōt-ə-ˌvī-rəs
1
Rotavirus
: a genus of reoviruses that are causative agents of gastroenteritis and that include one (Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children
Note: Viruses of the genus Rotavirus have a virion with a three-layered protein capsid lacking an outer lipid envelope when mature and a core of 11 discrete segments of double-stranded RNA.
2
: any virus of the genus Rotavirus
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