zoonotic
Americanadjective
Explanation
In medicine, zoonotic describes a disease that can be spread from animals to humans. If a rabid dog bites a person, the person may become infected with rabies, which is a zoonotic virus. Zoonotic comes from the noun zoonosis and its Greek roots, zōon, "animal," and nosos, "disease." The majority of diseases that affect humans started out in animal populations, but only the ones that pass directly from animals to people are considered zoonotic. One of the things that illnesses such as the Ebola virus, ringworm, and Lyme disease have in common is that they're all zoonotic.
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.
In research published in Science Advances, investigators used controlled laboratory experiments to study the zoonotic potential of CWD.
From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026
Before taking in the ducks, the animal services agency coordinated with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to test a sample of the ducks for zoonotic diseases, according to the county.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Bats are recognized as natural hosts for many zoonotic viruses, including rabies, Nipah, Hendra, Marburg, and SARS-CoV-1.
From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2026
In general, zoonotic disease researchers want more H5N1 surveillance in companion animals of all types.
From Salon • Feb. 12, 2025
Not only would domesticated animals have changed Indian societies, they might have created new zoonotic diseases.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
