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

That's only happened once in the history of the world: smallpox, which had killed hundreds of millions, was officially eradicated in 1980. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024

Fears were revived in 2014 after federal labs mishandled samples of smallpox, anthrax and H5N1. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

But this drug was only licensed by the FDA for smallpox. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024

Vaccination against the smallpox virus could end, a global commission announced. —Byjon Cohen, science.org, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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 minor