virulence

[ vir-yuh-luhns, vir-uh- ]
See synonyms for virulence on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. quality of being virulent.

  2. Bacteriology.

    • the relative ability of a microorganism to cause disease; degree of pathogenicity.

    • the capability of a microorganism to cause disease.

  1. venomous hostility.

  2. intense sharpness of temper.

Origin of virulence

1
1655–65; <Late Latin vīrulentia stench; see virulent, -ence
  • Often vir·u·len·cy .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use virulence in a sentence

  • And the prophets, in spite of their virulency, produced the highest forms of artistic beauty.

    The Literature of Ecstasy | Albert Mordell
  • The mortality at times has proved very great in this disease when it has appeared with unusual virulency.

  • Sometimes, without doubt, the virulency of the disease is lessened.

    The Pears of New York | U. P. Hedrick
  • Thirdly, from the virulency of the liquor it ejects, and the sad effects and symptoms that follow it.

    Micrographia | Robert Hooke
  • Satirical virulency may vex men sorely, but it hardly ever soundly converts them.

British Dictionary definitions for virulence

virulence

virulency

/ (ˈvɪrʊləns) /


noun
  1. the quality of being virulent

  2. the capacity of a microorganism for causing disease

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for virulence

virulence

[ (vir-yuh-luhns, vir-uh-luhns) ]


The capacity of a pathogen, such as a microorganism or toxin, to produce disease.

Notes for virulence

“Virulent” substances or organisms are extremely pathogenic or toxic.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.