viral

American  

[vahy-ruhl] / ˈvaɪ rəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus.

2. pertaining to or involving the spreading of information and opinions about a product or service from person to person, especially on the internet or in emails.

   a clever viral ad.

3. becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the internet.

   the most memorable viral videos;

   This book is already viral two weeks before its official publication date.

4. pertaining to a computer virus.

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idioms

1. go viral, to spread rapidly via the internet, email, or other media.

   Footage of the candidate's off-color remarks went viral within minutes.

viral British  

/ ˈvaɪrəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus

2. (of a video, image, story, etc) spread quickly and widely among internet users via social networking sites, e-mail, etc

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Other Word Forms

• antiviral
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of viral

First recorded in 1935–40; vir(us) + -al ¹

Explanation

If you go to work when you're sick, your co-workers will be hoping that whatever you've got isn't viral. Viral describes a disease caused by a virus, and viruses are usually infectious. Infections and other kinds of diseases can be classified as viral by a doctor, which means they're caused by viruses, specific kinds of microorganisms. Because of the speedy way that viral infections can spread, the meaning has grown to include the spread of ideas or information, often on the Internet. Viral videos are short online films that become incredibly popular very quickly, as people share them with each other and they spread like a virus.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

viral

A-heds explore new angles to viral trends, including how “6-7” is making life hell for math teachers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Part of the defensiveness, no doubt, is about Rupar’s undoubted ability to make images of the enormous carry-on bag that Harp hauls around go viral.

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

This even led to viral discussions about whether a $240,000 salaried job in-person, or a $120,000 salaried job fully remote was better.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Here's a look at some of the viral moments and all the bits and pieces the BBC captured behind-the-scenes at the show:

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

“The Inside Mobius blog posts have gone viral, and the clip of Layla with the Director, too,” Jake says.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed