hepatitis B

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a form of hepatitis caused by a DNA virus hepatitis B virus, or HBV that persists in the blood, characterized by a long incubation period: usually transmitted by sexual contact or by injection or ingestion of infected blood or other bodily fluids.

---

hepatitis B British  

noun

1. Former name: serum hepatitis.  a form of hepatitis caused by a virus transmitted by infected blood (as in transfusions), contaminated hypodermic needles, sexual contact, or by contact with any other body fluid

---

Etymology

Origin of hepatitis B

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hepatitis B

The virus has some significant structural differences from known oncogenic viruses such as human papilloma virus, which is linked to cervical cancer, and hepatitis B and C, which are associated with liver cancer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

The vitamin K shot is one of the three main interventions, along with the hepatitis B vaccine and an antibiotic ointment in the eyes, that newborns typically receive before leaving the hospital.

From Salon ● May 7, 2026

For example, the panel no longer recommends that all newborns in the United States receive a hepatitis B vaccine, a highly infectious disease that can lead to incurable liver damage.

From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026

Beyda was involved in lining up funding for a controversial study of the hepatitis B vaccine in Guinea-Bissau without input from the agency’s center that oversees viral hepatitis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

With the help of Slavin’s serum, Blumberg eventually uncovered the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer, and created the first hepatitis B vaccine, saving millions of lives.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot