hepatitis A
noun
: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (Hepatovirus ahepa), is marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, and jaundice but may be asymptomatic, especially in children, and is transmitted especially in food and water contaminated with infected fecal matter
Note: Unlike other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A is a short-term illness that does not progress to a chronic condition and does not typically cause permanent liver damage.
called also infectious hepatitis
Examples of hepatitis A in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cases of tetanus, whooping cough, and hepatitis A have also risen in recent years.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
In early January, what filled the vacuum when federal authorities abruptly stopped broadly endorsing vaccines against rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B for kids who aren’t deemed high-risk?
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
And the agency recommends that vaccines that protect against meningococcal bacteria and hepatitis A and B be given to children in high-risk groups only.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hepatitis A
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
In early January, what filled the vacuum when federal authorities abruptly stopped broadly endorsing vaccines against rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B for kids who aren’t deemed high-risk?
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
And the agency recommends that vaccines that protect against meningococcal bacteria and hepatitis A and B be given to children in high-risk groups only.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hepatitis A
Cite this Entry
“Hepatitis A.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatitis%20A. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hepatitis A
noun
: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (Hepatovirus ahepa), is marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, and jaundice but may be asymptomatic, especially in children, and is transmitted especially in food and water contaminated with infected fecal matter
Note: Unlike other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A is a short-term illness that does not progress to a chronic condition and does not typically cause permanent liver damage.
called also infectious hepatitis, infectious jaundice
see havrixLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
