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Definition of antivirus

antivirus

/ˌæn.tiˈvaɪ.rəs/
an · ti · vi · rus
Plural:antiviruses
•
Adjective:antiviral
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antivirus Lexical Profile

antivirus Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, such as computer viruses, from a computer system.

Example

"The IT department installed a new antivirus program on all company laptops."

Synonyms
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• noun

1

A software program designed to protect a computer or network by detecting, preventing, and removing computer viruses and other malicious software.

Example

"You should update your antivirus regularly to keep your personal data secure."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for antivirus

Word Nuance & Usage

"Antivirus" is used primarily in computing to describe software that protects against malicious code, whereas "antiviral" is used in medicine and biology for drugs or treatments targeting biological viruses.

• Rhymes for antivirus

• Nearby Words

antivenom
antiviolence
antiviral
antivirus
antiwar
antiwhite
antiwoman

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Antivirus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/antivirus
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