respiratory syncytial virus

British

noun

RSV. a myxovirus causing infections of the nose and throat, esp in young children. It is thought to be involved in some cot deaths

"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

respiratory syncytial virus Scientific

/ rĕs′pər-ə-tôr′ē /

A virus of the family Paromyxoviridae and the genus Pneumovirus that causes severe childhood respiratory infections, especially bronchiolitis in infants.

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.

The legal case centered on Moderna’s Spikevax shot for Covid-19 and its mResvia vaccine, which prevents a type of lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

The company reiterated its expectation that its three approved products—mNexspike, Covid vaccine Spikevax and the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine mResvia—will drive revenue growth of up to 10% in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

And here’s some advice about flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV:

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2025

Consequently, the treatment exhibited both therapeutic and preventive effects against COVID-19, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and others.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

It is also related to certain pneumonia viruses: to the parainfluenza virus, which causes colds in children, and to the respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause fatal pneumonia in a person who has aids.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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