hepatitis

noun

hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-təs 

plural hepatitides ˌhe-pə-ˈti-tə-ˌdēz  also hepatitises ˌhe-pə-ˈtī-tə-səz 

1

: inflammation of the liver

2

: a disease or condition (such as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver

Did you know?

The liver, the body's largest gland, performs many important tasks, but is also vulnerable to many illnesses. At least five types of hepatitis, labeled with the letters A–E, are caused by viruses. The most common are hepatitis A, acquired through contaminated food and water; hepatitis B, which usually travels via sexual activity or shared needles; and hepatitis C, generally passed through shared needles. Some other types, including alcoholic hepatitis (caused by drinking too much alcohol), aren't infectious. There are vaccines for types A and B, and drug treatments for A, B, and C, though the drugs aren't always effective.

Examples of hepatitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both children eventually contracted hepatitis, caused by drinking water contaminated with raw sewage. —Ariana Torrey, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024

Children were left without parents, while tens of thousands – perhaps hundreds of thousands – were infected with hepatitis (symptoms can take years to manifest). —Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 21 May 2024

Lesh was a prostate and bladder cancer survivor and had a liver transplant in 1998 due to a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking. —Brie Stimson, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024

Malnutrition is rife among the young, and diseases like polio, hepatitis, and cholera are flourishing in the crowded and unsanitary conditions. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hepatitis

• delta hepatitis
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• hepatitis D
• hepatitis delta virus
• hepatitis D virus
• hepatitis E
• infectious hepatitis
• non-A, non-B hepatitis
• serum hepatitis

Kids Definition

hepatitis

noun

hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhep-ə-ˈtīt-əs 

plural hepatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz  also hepatitises

-ˈtīt-ə-səz

: inflammation of the liver

also : any of several virus diseases marked especially by inflammation of the liver

Medical Definition

hepatitis

noun

hep·​a·​ti·​tis ˌhep-ə-ˈtīt-əs 

plural hepatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz  also hepatitises

-ˈtīt-ə-səz

1

: inflammation of the liver

2

: a disease or condition (as hepatitis A or hepatitis B) marked by inflammation of the liver

hepatitic

-ˈtit-ik 

adjective