SARS-CoV-2
noun
: the coronavirus (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 of the genus Betacoronavirus) that is the causative agent of COVID-19
Examples of SARS-CoV-2 in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But when the body faces a respiratory virus like influenza or SARS-CoV-2, the resulting inflammation (both locally in the lungs and systemically throughout the body) acts like an alarm clock.
—
Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2025
The mRNA vaccine platform was famously deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, allowing for the creation, testing and regulatory approval of vaccines within 11 months of the sharing of the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Neely Lab is interested in applying the technology to gene editing, having previously used CRISPR to understand the mechanisms behind how venoms cause cell death and pain, and how proteins bind to cells, including the crucial spike protein in SARS-CoV-2.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 July 2025
None of these three characteristics have to date been seen with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2025
The idea SARS-CoV-2 might have originated in a laboratory is not, in itself, a conspiracy theory.
—CNN Money, 31 July 2025
As viral respiratory infections like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are associated with inflammation, this may trigger processes that could cause cancer cells to spread.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
The effect, which was moderate to large, was present regardless of whether the individual was infected with SARS-CoV-2.
—New Atlas, 29 July 2025
Line chart showing SARS-CoV-2 wastewater viral activity levels from April 12 to July 12, 2025, nationally and by region.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 23 July 2025
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Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2025
The mRNA vaccine platform was famously deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, allowing for the creation, testing and regulatory approval of vaccines within 11 months of the sharing of the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Neely Lab is interested in applying the technology to gene editing, having previously used CRISPR to understand the mechanisms behind how venoms cause cell death and pain, and how proteins bind to cells, including the crucial spike protein in SARS-CoV-2.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 July 2025
None of these three characteristics have to date been seen with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2025
The idea SARS-CoV-2 might have originated in a laboratory is not, in itself, a conspiracy theory.
—CNN Money, 31 July 2025
As viral respiratory infections like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are associated with inflammation, this may trigger processes that could cause cancer cells to spread.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
The effect, which was moderate to large, was present regardless of whether the individual was infected with SARS-CoV-2.
—New Atlas, 29 July 2025
Line chart showing SARS-CoV-2 wastewater viral activity levels from April 12 to July 12, 2025, nationally and by region.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“SARS-CoV-2.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SARS-CoV-2. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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SARS-CoV-2
noun
: the coronavirus (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 of the genus Betacoronavirus) that is the causative agent of COVID-19 see delta variant, omicron variant
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