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

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

GSK GSK -0.41%decrease; red down pointing triangle said a drug candidate for hepatitis B helped nearly a fifth of patients who enrolled in two late-stage clinical trials achieve a functional cure.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 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

A sizeable portion of Guinea-Bissau's population is estimated to have hepatitis B, and the WHO says vaccination at birth prevents the virus being transmitted from mother to baby in 70-95% of cases.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Researchers around the world were working to develop a vaccine for hepatitis B, and doing so required a steady supply of antibodies like Slavin’s, which pharmaceutical companies were willing to pay large sums for.

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