norovirus

American

[nawr-oh-vahy-ruhs] / ˈnɔr oʊˌvaɪ rəs /

noun

plural

noroviruses

any of various single-stranded RNA viruses of the genus Norovirus, of the family Caliciviridae: the most common cause of epidemic viral gastroenteritis in humans.

norovirus British

/ ˈnɔːrəʊˌvaɪrəs /

noun

a virus which is a common cause of gastroenteritis

"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

Etymology

Origin of norovirus

1970–75; < Nor(walk) virus (with connective -o- )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Soul legend Lionel Richie was appearing on The One Show in 2012, when he picked up norovirus from presenter Alex Jones.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

"I'm not ill very often but I remember the norovirus was rife at the time and I started to feel very dodgy," she later told The Sun.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Some seafood products sold to California businesses were recalled this week over concerns they may be contaminated with the highly contagious norovirus, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Along with its flu and flu/COVID-19 vaccine candidates, it also has cancer and norovirus vaccines in late-stage studies.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

Like, when Anna got the norovirus last year, Morgan and I reenacted the fight she missed in the lunchroom.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023