antiviral

1 of 2

adjective

an·​ti·​vi·​ral ˌan-tē-ˈvī-rəl 

ˌan-tī-

1

medical : acting, effective, or directed against viruses

an antiviral vaccine/drug

2

: used to protect a computer from viruses : antivirus

antiviral software

antiviral

2 of 2

noun

: an antiviral agent and especially a drug

antivirals used in treating influenza

Examples of antiviral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Advertisement Health officials said in a statement that people who had direct contact with the cats are now being monitored for symptoms and have been offered Tamiflu or other antiviral medications. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Seek medical attention early to get tested and receive antiviral medications for flu or COVID-19. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

Nuzzo, of the Brown University School of Public Health, said that while antivirals are important for anyone exposed to or infected with the virus, their effectiveness is limited by a very small window of time in which they must be given. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024

While most people won't need them, antivirals are available. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1959, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

antiviral

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​vi·​ral -ˈvi-rəl 

variants also antivirus

-rəs 

: acting, effective, or directed against viruses

antiviral drugs

antiviral

2 of 2 noun

: an antiviral agent and especially a drug