smallpox
noun
small·pox
ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks 
: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus (species Variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus), is characterized by a skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and is believed to have been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination
called also variola
Examples of smallpox in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Throughout the program’s history, EIS officers have been the first line of defense against anthrax, Ebola, smallpox, polio, E. coli, and, yes, bird flu.
—
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
But Americans were not the only ones: The Soviet Union worked even longer on biological weapons, experimenting with smallpox and other highly lethal pathogens.
—Meredith Wolf Schizer, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
This aside is a rare reference to the efforts Washington employed in February 1777 to have the whole Continental Army inoculated against smallpox.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Broadening out to look at all vaccines, a landmark May 2024 study led by WHO estimated that 154 million lives had been saved by immunization programs covering diseases including smallpox, tuberculosis, measles and polio over the past 50 years, including 101 million infants.
—Soph Warnes, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
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Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
But Americans were not the only ones: The Soviet Union worked even longer on biological weapons, experimenting with smallpox and other highly lethal pathogens.
—Meredith Wolf Schizer, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
This aside is a rare reference to the efforts Washington employed in February 1777 to have the whole Continental Army inoculated against smallpox.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Broadening out to look at all vaccines, a landmark May 2024 study led by WHO estimated that 154 million lives had been saved by immunization programs covering diseases including smallpox, tuberculosis, measles and polio over the past 50 years, including 101 million infants.
—Soph Warnes, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smallpox
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Cite this Entry
“Smallpox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smallpox. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smallpox
noun
small·pox
ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks
: a sometimes deadly disease that is caused by a virus, is characterized by fever and a skin rash, and is believed to have been wiped out worldwide as a result of vaccination
Medical Definition
smallpox
noun
small·pox
ˈsmȯl-ˌpäks
: an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus of the genus Orthopoxvirus (species Variola virus), is characterized by skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and is believed to have been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination
called also variola
see variola major, variola minorLove words? Need even more definitions?
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