parainfluenza virus
noun
plural parainfluenza viruses
: any of several paramyxoviruses (genera Respirovirus and Orthorubulavirus) that are a frequent cause of infections (such as croup) of the lower respiratory tract especially in infants and children
Examples of parainfluenza virus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Human parainfluenza viruses, or parainfluenza, has also peaked a few times this season, Wolfe said.
—
Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
The vaccine uses a type of parainfluenza virus encoded with the coronavirus’s spike protein to train the immune system to recognize and fight it.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2023
Other viruses and bacteria can also contribute to the development of kennel cough, including adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and Bordetella pertussis.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022
And that will be the same whether the virus being kept at bay is Covid-19, or RSV, or rhinovirus or parainfluenza virus.
—Maggie Fox, CNN, 26 Aug. 2021
Croup is usually caused by a viral infection, like parainfluenza virus, which can also cause laryngitis in adults, Gina Posner, M.D., a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells SELF.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 16 Oct. 2018
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Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
The vaccine uses a type of parainfluenza virus encoded with the coronavirus’s spike protein to train the immune system to recognize and fight it.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2023
Other viruses and bacteria can also contribute to the development of kennel cough, including adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and Bordetella pertussis.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022
And that will be the same whether the virus being kept at bay is Covid-19, or RSV, or rhinovirus or parainfluenza virus.
—Maggie Fox, CNN, 26 Aug. 2021
Croup is usually caused by a viral infection, like parainfluenza virus, which can also cause laryngitis in adults, Gina Posner, M.D., a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells SELF.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 16 Oct. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Parainfluenza virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parainfluenza%20virus. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
parainfluenza virus
noun
para·in·flu·en·za virus
ˈpar-ə-ˌin-flü-ˌen-zə- 
: any of several paramyxoviruses (genera Respirovirus and Orthorubulavirus) that are associated with or responsible for some respiratory infections especially in children
called also parainfluenza
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