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
Before the rotavirus vaccine, 55,000 to 70,000 children were hospitalized annually for the disease.
—
Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
In addition to the rubella vaccine, Plotkin was a co-developer of the rotavirus vaccine Rota-Teq.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The decision by Health and Human Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to roll back recommendations for several childhood diseases, such as hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and meningococcal disease is disheartening and downright dangerous. .
—Kayla St. Pierre, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2026
Last month, the CDC removed its universal recommendations for children to receive seven immunizations: those protecting against respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal disease, flu, COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and rotavirus.
—Amanda Seitz, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026
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Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
In addition to the rubella vaccine, Plotkin was a co-developer of the rotavirus vaccine Rota-Teq.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The decision by Health and Human Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to roll back recommendations for several childhood diseases, such as hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and meningococcal disease is disheartening and downright dangerous. .
—Kayla St. Pierre, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2026
Last month, the CDC removed its universal recommendations for children to receive seven immunizations: those protecting against respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal disease, flu, COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and rotavirus.
—Amanda Seitz, NPR, 13 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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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