variola
noun
va·ri·o·la
və-ˈrī-ə-lə 
ˌver-ē-ˈō-lə
ˌver-ē-ˈō-lə
: smallpox
also
: its causative poxvirus (species Variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus)
Examples of variola in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Smallpox, or variola, is one of the deadliest pathogens to have struck humanity—in the best of cases, around a third of patients with smallpox would die and some versions were almost always fatal—and one of history’s biggest killers.
—
Robert Hart, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
The variola virus that causes the deadly pox had been known to liquidate entire communities, towns, and cities since antiquity, stalking along trade routes and capitalizing upon human behavior and patterns of movement.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2015
The variola virus that caused smallpox was not only lethal but also highly contagious.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 21 June 2022
The variola virus that causes smallpox and the monkeypox virus belong to the same family.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 24 May 2022
But other viruses, including influenza and variola (pox) have been found in archaeological human remains as much as 400 years old, and Mühlemann says that others like herpes viruses, parvoviruses, and adenoviruses might be good candidates.
—Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 11 May 2018
Additional testing of the variola samples is under way to determine if the material in the vials is viable (i.e., can grow in tissue culture).
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 8 July 2014
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Robert Hart, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
The variola virus that causes the deadly pox had been known to liquidate entire communities, towns, and cities since antiquity, stalking along trade routes and capitalizing upon human behavior and patterns of movement.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2015
The variola virus that caused smallpox was not only lethal but also highly contagious.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 21 June 2022
The variola virus that causes smallpox and the monkeypox virus belong to the same family.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 24 May 2022
But other viruses, including influenza and variola (pox) have been found in archaeological human remains as much as 400 years old, and Mühlemann says that others like herpes viruses, parvoviruses, and adenoviruses might be good candidates.
—Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 11 May 2018
Additional testing of the variola samples is under way to determine if the material in the vials is viable (i.e., can grow in tissue culture).
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 8 July 2014
Cite this Entry
“Variola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variola. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
variola
noun
va·ri·o·la
və-ˈrī-ə-lə
: smallpox
also
: the poxvirus of the genus Orthopoxvirus (species Variola virus) that is the causative agent of smallpox
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