human papillomavirus

American  

[hyoo-muhn pap-uh-loh-muh-vahy-ruhs] / ˈhyu mən ˌpæp əˈloʊ məˌvaɪ rəs /

noun

plural

human papillomaviruses

1. any papillomavirus infecting humans and having certain genotypes that cause cancerous growths or lesions, especially on the cervix: HPV.

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human papillomavirus Scientific  

/ păp′ə-lō′mə-vī′rəs /

1. A virus of the genus Papillomavirus, certain strains of which cause skin and genital warts in humans or are associated with various cancers, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, and larynx.

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Example Sentences

Doctors typically swab a patient’s cervix in clinical settings to test for high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus, an infection that can cause cancer when left untreated, through Pap smears and HPV testing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

Cervical screening involves testing for HPV, human papillomavirus.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025

That makes it a bigger risk factor than exposure to UV radiation, poor diet, and infections from pathogens like hepatitis and the human papillomavirus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

Particulate vaccines have been developed for a handful of pathogens, including hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, and a particulate vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 has been approved for use in South Korea.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2024

Novavax makes a protein subunit vaccine, the technology used in hepatitis B and human papillomavirus vaccines.

From Science Magazine • May 22, 2023