norovirus

American

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

noun

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

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

noroviruses

plural

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.

For example, in the case of the cruise with norovirus, the French authorities temporarily prevented anyone from getting off the ship, leaving passengers trapped on the vessel with norovirus.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

In the U.S., cruises account for just 1% of reported norovirus outbreaks.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 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

Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fatigue within one to two days of consuming seafood from the harbor — consistent with norovirus infection, according to Whatcom County Health and Community Services.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 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