viral

adjective

vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl 

1

: of, relating to, or caused by a virus

a viral infection

2

: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by means of social media

a viral video

virally

ˈvī-rə-lē 

adverb

Examples of viral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The viral European summer trend is everywhere, showing up on social media feeds and store shelves. —Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 22 June 2025

Over the next few weeks, there will be press releases showing Boyle posing for events in Paris, Rome, London, and other cities that, were a viral outbreak to occur that causes people to fly into homicidal frenzies, would be turned into metropolitan ruins. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

Yet even with that awareness, their subscribers, drawn in by raw and unfiltered coverage, begin to believe that going viral qualifies someone to be called a journalist. —Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Look no further than the viral donut hack that helped one jobless 25-year-old stand out in Silicon Valley. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

vir(us) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing viral

• viral load
• viral marketing

Rhymes for viral

• chiral
• spiral
• adenoviral
• antiretroviral
• antiviral
• retroviral

Kids Definition

viral

adjective

vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl 

1

: of, relating to, or caused by a virus

a viral infection

2

: quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication

a viral video

Medical Definition

viral

adjective

vi·​ral ˈvī-rəl 

: of, relating to, or caused by a virus

viral infections

virally

-rə-lē 

adverb