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

Infectious disease programs took a hit, too, including programs that fight outbreaks in other countries, labs focused on HIV and viral hepatitis in the U.S. and staff working on tuberculosis elimination. —Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025

For the 2023 fiscal year, that was nearly $1.3 billion to prevent and control HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and infectious disease. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025

Affected offices include the CDC division for preventing HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs and tuberculosis, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. —Victoria Knight, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spent about $1.3 billion in 2023 on the prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other STIs, according to the Journal. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 20 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for hepatitis

• adenitis
• arteritis
• blepharitis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis
• choroiditis
• decubitus
• dermatitis
• fasciitis
• gingivitis
• iritis
• keratitis

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