Epstein-Barr virus

noun

Ep·​stein-Barr virus ˌep-ˌstīn-ˈbär- 

: a herpesvirus (species Human herpesvirus 4 of the genus Lymphocryptovirus) that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

—abbreviation EBV

Examples of Epstein-Barr virus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Stephenson, that moment arrived after she was forced to cancel her wedding in Italy due to reactivated Epstein-Barr virus, a diagnosis that interrupted her whirlwind life in fashion and nonprofit leadership. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 25 Oct. 2024

Risk factors include having low vitamin D levels, smoking cigarettes, and having Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis (mono). —Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Rn-Bc, Health, 24 Sep. 2024

These include Epstein-Barr virus, varicella zoster (chicken pox), and Lyme disease. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2024

Other risk factors that contributed to cancer cases at a lesser degree include eating red and processed meat; low consumption of fruits and vegetables; and infections with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV), according to researchers. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Michael Anthony Epstein born1921 and Yvonne M. Barr born1932 English pathologists

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Epstein-Barr virus

noun

Ep·​stein-Barr virus ˌep-ˌstīn-ˌbär- 

: a herpesvirus (species Human herpesvirus 4 of the genus Lymphocryptovirus) that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

—abbreviation EBV

called also EB virus