anti-viral
|an-ti-vi-ral|
/ˌæn.tiˈvaɪ.rəl/
(antiviral)
against virus
Etymology
'antiviral' originates from modern English, a combination of the prefix 'anti-' (meaning 'against') and the adjective 'viral' (relating to a 'virus').
'viral' derives from the noun 'virus', from Latin 'virus' meaning 'poison' or 'venom'; 'antiviral' was formed in English in the 20th century by combining 'anti-' with 'viral' to name agents acting against viruses.
Initially the components meant 'against' ('anti-') and 'poison/virus' (via 'virus'), and over time 'antiviral' came to mean specifically 'acting against viruses' or 'a drug that acts against viruses'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a drug or agent used to prevent or treat viral infections (short for 'antiviral drug').
The doctor prescribed an anti-viral for her infection.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
acting to prevent, inhibit, or treat infections caused by viruses.
Researchers are developing new anti-viral therapies.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/27 20:55