hepatitis B

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a DNA virus (Orthohepadnavirus hominoidei of the family Hepadnaviridae), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, jaundice, and joint pain but may be asymptomatic, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected bodily fluids (such as semen)

Note: The acute form of hepatitis B, a mild illness lasting several weeks to months, may progress to long-term or chronic infection often leading to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

called also serum hepatitis

Examples of hepatitis B in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The extreme politicization of a minor change to the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a danger to public health. —Lauren Arikan, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

These vaccines — which include immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, COVID-19 and the flu — are now only recommended for children at high risk of serious illness, which runs contrary to guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

Casey Means on hepatitis B vaccines Several senators also brought up the hepatitis B vaccine during the hearing. —Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026

The group, nowstacked with vaccine skeptics, voted in December to recommend that parents who vaccinate their infants against hepatitis B ask for a blood test after the first dose to see if the full shot regimen is needed. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hepatitis B

• actuary
• antiquary
• bolsheviki
• calliope
• chelicerae
• covenantee
• cruciferae
• diastole
• distributee
• hyperbole
• interviewee
• origami

Medical Definition

hepatitis B

noun

-ˈbē 

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a double-stranded DNA virus (Orthohepadnavirus hominoidei of the family Hepadnaviridae), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, jaundice, and joint pain but may be asymptomatic, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected body fluids (such as semen)

Note: The acute form of hepatitis B, a mild illness lasting several weeks to months, may progress to long-term or chronic infection often leading to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

called also homologous serum hepatitis, homologous serum jaundice, serum hepatitis