hepatitis C

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (Hepacivirus hominis), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (such as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Examples of hepatitis C in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2024, there were 138 cases of hepatitis C treated at the prison. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2025

Residents’ fears were partly driven by incorrect information that circulated just after the crash, when the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office warned that the monkeys carried diseases, including Covid, hepatitis C and herpes, based on information gathered at the scene. —Bracey Harris, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025

Certain chronic viral infections — shingles (herpes zoster), HIV, and hepatitis C — can raise cardiovascular risks for years. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Oct. 2025

By Asuka Koda, CNN Covid-19 infections have been strongly linked with cardiovascular conditions like heart disease and stroke, but new research shows that other viral infections such as influenza, HIV, hepatitis C and shingles can also increase the risk of heart problems and cardiovascular disease. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hepatitis C

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

Medical Definition

hepatitis C

noun

-ˈsē 

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a flavivirus (Hepacivirus hominis), is often asymptomatic in its early stages but may be marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal tenderness, and muscle and joint pain, and is usually transmitted by infected blood (as by injection of an illicit drug, blood transfusion, or exposure to blood or blood products)

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis C typically progresses to a long-term or chronic infection which often leads to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.