RSV

1 of 2

abbreviation or noun

ˌär-ˌes-ˈvē 

plural RSVs

: respiratory syncytial virus

Like many viruses, RSV is spread through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects.

—Nancy Snyderman

RSV, a common respiratory illness that can cause severe breathing problems for babies, has been spreading around the region and the country, and doctors are cautioning about the risks to young children.

—Josette Keelor

RSVs typically emerge in late fall and remain until early spring. However, signs of RSV outbreak began in the middle of April before exponentially increasing by early May.

—Winston Henvey

RSV

2 of 2

abbreviation

Revised Standard Version

Examples of RSV in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Abbreviation or noun

Isaacson said that in Kane County, though, the most recent data puts flu and COVID-19 cases at moderate levels and RSV at low levels. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

Participants can receive no-cost vaccinations for flu, RSV, shingles, tetanus, HPV and other illnesses. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026

In this worst case scenario, the cancer vaccine fails in Phase 3 and the Covid/Flu/RSV business continues to shrink due to competition and vaccine fatigue. —Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Nearly everyone gets infected with RSV at some point in their lives. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Abbreviation Or Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

RSV

1 of 2 abbreviation or noun

ˌär-ˌes-ˈvē 

: respiratory syncytial virus

Long considered primarily a pathogen of young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been recognized as a cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults.

—Harvey B. Simon, Science & Medicine

However, upper respiratory tract infections caused by RSV tend to last longer than those caused by other common respiratory agents …

—Caroline Breese, The New England Journal of Medicine

RSV

2 of 2 abbreviation

Rous sarcoma virus