RSV

1 of 2

abbreviation or noun

ˌär-ˌes-ˈvē 

plural RSVs

: respiratory syncytial virus

Like many viruses, RSV is spread through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects.

—Nancy Snyderman

RSV, a common respiratory illness that can cause severe breathing problems for babies, has been spreading around the region and the country, and doctors are cautioning about the risks to young children.

—Josette Keelor

RSVs typically emerge in late fall and remain until early spring. However, signs of RSV outbreak began in the middle of April before exponentially increasing by early May.

—Winston Henvey

RSV

2 of 2

abbreviation

Revised Standard Version

Examples of RSV in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Abbreviation or noun

Part of the confusion stems from the expectation that the virus should behave like other respiratory-season bugs: The flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, typically spike in the winter, which is why shots are offered in the fall. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024

This is to reduce the spread of multiple infectious respiratory diseases, including influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the newest strain of the coronavirus, XEC. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Vaccines are available from all three of these viruses, although the RSV vaccine is only for the high-risk groups of young children and seniors. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024

Marion County hospitals this week will start restricting visitors in an attempt to protect vulnerable patients from flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses, the Marion County Health Department announced late last week. —Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Abbreviation Or Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

RSV

1 of 2 abbreviation or noun

ˌär-ˌes-ˈvē 

: respiratory syncytial virus

Long considered primarily a pathogen of young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been recognized as a cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults.

—Harvey B. Simon, Science & Medicine

However, upper respiratory tract infections caused by RSV tend to last longer than those caused by other common respiratory agents …

—Caroline Breese, The New England Journal of Medicine

RSV

2 of 2 abbreviation

Rous sarcoma virus