virion

noun

vi·​ri·​on ˈvī-rē-ˌän  ˈvir-ē- 

: a complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infectious form of a virus

Examples of virion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In cells infected with influenza A, FOOD and F-ApoEVs contained viral proteins and even whole virions, which are the complete, infectious viral particles that exist outside a host cell. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025

This electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a cluster of norovirus virions. — CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024

This 1980 transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology exhibited by three poxvirus, molluscum contagiosum virions. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2023

There are three segments, Small (S), Medium (M), and Large (L), each of which encodes different aspects of the virion. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 3 June 2022

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a monkeypox virion, obtained from a sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. — Maria Cheng, BostonGlobe.com, 23 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, from virien viral (from virus virus) + -on -on entry 2

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for virion

• assyrian
• counterion
• criterion
• hyperion
• iberian
• illyrian
• mousterian
• shakespearean
• shakespearian
• hanoverian
• presbyterian

Medical Definition

virion

noun

vi·​ri·​on ˈvī-rē-ˌän  ˈvir-ē- 

: a complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infectious form of a virus