parainfluenza virus

noun

: any of several paramyxoviruses (genera Respirovirus and Rubulavirus) 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Human parainfluenza viruses, or parainfluenza, has also peaked a few times this season, Wolfe said. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 The agency’s National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System shows positive testing for norovirus, respiratory adenovirus and human parainfluenza viruses have all been steadily increasing the past few weeks. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2023 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 Creech said his team continues to see croup, which is caused by parainfluenza virus. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 24 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

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parainfluenza virus was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near parainfluenza virus

Cite this Entry

“Parainfluenza virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parainfluenza%20virus. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

parainfluenza virus

noun
para·​in·​flu·​en·​za virus ˈpar-ə-ˌin-flü-ˌen-zə- How to pronounce parainfluenza virus (audio)
: any of several single-stranded RNA viruses (genera Respirovirus and Rubulavirus) of the family Paramyxoviridae that are associated with or responsible for some respiratory infections especially in children

called also parainfluenza

More from Merriam-Webster on parainfluenza virus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!