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
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What are the symptoms of rotavirus The symptoms of rotavirus are a lot like those of noroviruses or food poisoning— severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain, the CDC said.
—
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
Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, federal health officials have rolled back recommendations for vaccines that protect against COVID, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, rotavirus, and more.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
And if their 2-year-old son catches rotavirus from his sister, the ordeal could repeat — more missed workdays, more medical bills, and more financial peril.
—Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
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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
Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, federal health officials have rolled back recommendations for vaccines that protect against COVID, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, rotavirus, and more.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
And if their 2-year-old son catches rotavirus from his sister, the ordeal could repeat — more missed workdays, more medical bills, and more financial peril.
—Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 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 11 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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