viral

American  

[vahy-ruhl] / ˈvaɪ rəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus.

2. pertaining to or involving the spreading of information and opinions about a product or service from person to person, especially on the internet or in emails.

   a clever viral ad.

3. becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the internet.

   the most memorable viral videos;

   This book is already viral two weeks before its official publication date.

4. pertaining to a computer virus.

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idioms

1. go viral, to spread rapidly via the internet, email, or other media.

   Footage of the candidate's off-color remarks went viral within minutes.

viral British  

/ ˈvaɪrəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus

2. (of a video, image, story, etc) spread quickly and widely among internet users via social networking sites, e-mail, etc

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Other Word Forms

• antiviral adjective

Etymology

Origin of viral

First recorded in 1935–40; vir(us) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Owens has continued to work consistently since the viral moment, taking on roles across television and film while also speaking openly about the importance of valuing all forms of labor.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Jurors were not shown the aftermath of Hipolito’s arrest, which went viral on social media.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

"More AI," said one viral Threads post, questioning why his cup remained full after a large sip.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

To do it right, brands need to be among the first to pounce on a potentially viral mishap, said Allen Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Division of the RNA component into a large number of subunits would produce polynucleotide chains too small to carry the genetic information that Francis and I believed must reside in the viral RNA.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson