hepatitis

American  

[hep-uh-tahy-tis] / ˌhɛp əˈtaɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the liver, caused by a virus or a toxin and characterized by jaundice, liver enlargement, and fever.

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hepatitis British  

/ ˌhɛpəˈtaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the liver, characterized by fever, jaundice, and weakness See hepatitis A hepatitis B hepatitis C

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hepatitis Scientific  

/ hĕp′ə-tī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by any of various infectious agents or toxins, including alcohol and numerous chemical compounds. Symptoms usually include jaundice, fatigue, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain. There are five types of viral hepatitis: A, B,C, D, and E. Hepatitis A, an acute infection caused by a virus of the genus Hepatovirus is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, caused by a virus of the genus Orthohepadnavirus and Hepatitis C, caused by a virus of the genus Hepacivirus, are more serious infections that are transmitted through infected bodily fluids such as blood and semen.

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hepatitis Cultural  

1. An inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus, but it can be the result of exposure to certain toxic agents, such as drugs or chemicals. One viral form of the disease is spread by contaminated food and water, and other forms by contaminated injection needles and blood transfusions. Symptoms of hepatitis include fever and jaundice.

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Etymology

Origin of hepatitis

From the Greek word hēpatîtis, dating back to 1720–30. See hepat-, -itis

Example Sentences

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

GSK said the agreement sharpens the focus of its liver-disease portfolio, which includes potential treatments for chronic hepatitis B and fatty-liver disease, among other conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

And it now recommends that families and healthcare providers engage in what is dubbed “shared clinical decision-making” for the once broadly recommended vaccines against rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal disease.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

The author contrasts these examples with pharmaceutical executives at Gilead Sciences who prioritized higher profits over patient access by pricing hepatitis C treatment at $84,000 rather than the minimum profitable $55,000.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Without those tissues, we would have no tests for diseases like hepatitis and HIV; no vaccines for rabies, smallpox, measles; none of the promising new drugs for leukemia, breast cancer, colon cancer.

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