retrovirus

noun

ret·ro·vi·rus ˈre-trō-ˌvī-rəs

: any of a family (Retroviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that replicate within a host cell via reverse transcription and incorporate into the genome of these cells as a provirus, that are often tumorigenic, and that include the lentiviruses (such as the HIVs)

retroviral

ˈre-trō-ˌvī-rəl

adjective

Examples of retrovirus in a Sentence

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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.

He is best known for his pioneering discovery of human retroviruses, including HIV as the cause of AIDS. — Charles J. Lockwood, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026 That requires a set of molecules and enzymes that don't exist in humans and are largely reserved for retroviruses. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2025 Back in the evolutionary past, some of the proteins known as HERV-K Env studded the outside of the HERV-K retroviruses. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025 Of particular concern are ones called porcine endogenous retroviruses that hide out in the pig genome. — Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retrovirus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of retrovirus was in 1975

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retrovirology

retrovirus

retry

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“Retrovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrovirus. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

retrovirus

noun

ret·ro·vi·rus ˈre-trō-ˌvī-rəs

: any of a group of RNA-containing viruses (as HIV) that replicate by becoming incorporated into the chromosomes of infected cells in the form of DNA which is produced from the viral RNA

Medical Definition

retrovirus

noun

ret·ro·vi·rus ˈre-trō-ˌvī-rəs

: any of the family Retroviridae of single-stranded RNA viruses

called also RNA tumor virus

retroviral

-rəl

adjective

retrovirally

-ē

adverb

retrovirus

noun

Examples of retrovirus in a Sentence

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retrovirus

noun

Examples of retrovirus in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for retrovirus

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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