norovirus
noun
nor·o·virus
ˈnȯr-ə-ˌvī-rəs 
: any of a genus (Norovirus) of small, round, single-stranded RNA viruses that includes a single species (species Norwalk virus) with various strains causing gastroenteritis in people and animals (such as cows, pigs, and dogs)
People spread the virus by eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching their mouth or having direct contact with another person who is infected.—
Cherie Black
Cherie BlackNote: In people, noroviruses cause gastroenteritis marked chiefly by sudden onset diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.
see norwalk virusExamples of norovirus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Between August 1, 2024, and January 15, 2025, there were more than 1,000 norovirus outbreaks reported in the U.S.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2025
From August 2024 to January 2025, the CDC recorded 1,078 reports of norovirus outbreaks.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2025
The latter, hydrophobic side can hook into, and then destroy, the membranes that surround some microbes (though norovirus isn’t one of them).
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Each erupted when a new norovirus variant replaced the dominant one.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for norovirus 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2025
From August 2024 to January 2025, the CDC recorded 1,078 reports of norovirus outbreaks.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2025
The latter, hydrophobic side can hook into, and then destroy, the membranes that surround some microbes (though norovirus isn’t one of them).
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Each erupted when a new norovirus variant replaced the dominant one.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for norovirus
Articles Related to norovirus
Dictionary Entries Near norovirus
Cite this Entry
“Norovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/norovirus. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
norovirus
noun
nor·o·virus
ˌnȯr-ō-ˈvī-rəs
1
capitalized
: a genus of small, round, single-stranded, highly infectious RNA viruses that includes a single species (species Norwalk virus) with various strains causing gastroenteritis in people and animals (such as cows and dogs)
2
: any virus of the genus Norovirus
People spread the virus by eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching their mouth or having direct contact with another person who is infected.—Cherie Black, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Cherie Black, The Seattle Post-IntelligencerNote: In people, noroviruses cause gastroenteritis marked chiefly by sudden onset, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.
see norwalk virusLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share