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

One of the first major projects the WHO was involved in was a global immunization campaign that eventually led to the eradication of smallpox in 1980. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

In his bedroom, Washington battled smallpox, which gave him immunity and potentially saved his life when the deadly disease swept through his army in the Revolutionary War. —Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Yet vaccines have never been universally accepted, dating back to the first inoculations against smallpox. —Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025

Should caseloads dwindle to zero, Guinea worm will become only the second human disease in history (after smallpox) to be eradicated. —Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for smallpox

• botox
• checkbox
• comox
• cornstalks
• cowpox
• crosswalks
• deadlocks
• detox
• feedstocks
• firebox
• gearbox
• hemlocks

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