Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

retroviruses

  • plural
    of retrovirus.
    retrovirus
    noun
    any of a family of single-stranded RNA viruses having a helical envelope and containing an enzyme that allows for a reversal of genetic transcription, from RNA to DNA rather than the usual DNA to RNA, the newly transcribed viral DNA being incorporated into the host cell's DNA strand for the production of new RNA retroviruses: the family includes the AIDS virus and certain oncogene-carrying viruses implicated in various cancers.

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.

See Examples For:

Reverse transcriptase is also used by a unique family of viruses, known as retroviruses, to replicate themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2025

The company also inactivated retroviruses that pigs carry and could be harmful to humans.

From New York Times ● May 12, 2024

The observations on this process will help to improve our understanding how retroviruses rewrite host genomes.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 5, 2024

Like modern HIV, these ancient retroviruses had to insert their genetic material into their host's genome to replicate.

From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2022

To convert RNA into DNA, retroviruses contain genes that encode the virus-specific enzyme reverse transcriptase that transcribes an RNA template to DNA.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013

More Suggestions