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Definition of coronavirus

coronavirus

/kəˈroʊ.nəˌvaɪ.rəs/
co · ro · na · vi · rus
Plural:coronaviruses
•
Adjective:coronaviral
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coronavirus Lexical Profile

coronavirus Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The contagious respiratory illness COVID-19, or the specific virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes it.

Example

"Many schools shifted to remote learning during the height of the coronavirus pandemic."

2

Any of a large family of enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses (family Coronaviridae) characterized by club-shaped surface spikes that resemble a crown under an electron microscope, causing respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in mammals and birds.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for coronavirus

Word Nuance & Usage

In scientific usage, "coronavirus" refers to an entire family of viruses, whereas "COVID-19" specifically denotes the respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 strain.

• Nearby Words

corona
coronary
coronation
coronavirus
coronella
coroner
coronet

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1968 by a group of virologists from Latin "corona" (meaning "crown" or "halo") and "virus", referring to the characteristic crown-like fringe of surface projections seen under an electron microscope.

Cite this Entry

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