rabies

American  

[rey-beez] / ˈreɪ biz /

noun

Pathology.

1. an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.

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rabies British  

/ ˈreɪbiːz, ˌreɪbɪˈɛtɪk, ˈræbɪk /

noun

1. Also called: hydrophobia.   lyssa.  pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysis

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rabies Scientific  

/ rā′bēz /

1. A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine.

2. See Note at hydrophobia

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rabies Cultural  

1. An acute disease, caused by a virus, which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.

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Other Word Forms

• antirabies adjective
• rabic adjective

Etymology

Origin of rabies

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin rabiēs “rage, madness,” from rab(ere) “to be mad, rave” + iēs, abstract noun suffix

Example Sentences

Her family were eventually asked about her travel history, and information from her husband Ronald about the dog scratch led doctors to investigate rabies.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Dr Katherine Cartwright, an expert from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury that there had only been 26 rabies cases in the UK since 1946.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

The family of a grandmother who died from rabies have told an inquest they were determined her death would "not be without meaning".

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

An inquest in Sheffield has heard she was admitted to Barnsley Hospital after becoming ill in June, where her condition deteriorated before a psychiatrist spotted she might have rabies.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

And, of course, she had had a series of shots for rabies, since she was a veterinarian.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston