monkeypox
noun
Note: This disease was first identified in monkeys in 1958, although the natural reservoir (see reservoir sense 3a) has not been identified. The virus has been found in various animals including rodents and primates.
Note: As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the name mpox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.
Examples of monkeypox in a Sentence
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
The federal government's disease-tracking agency has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox and a number of other infectious diseases.
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CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
The federal government’s disease-tracking agency has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox and a number of other infectious diseases.
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CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Threats include bacterial and viral diseases such as monkeypox, leptospirosis and salmonellosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Ashley J. Dimella,
FOXNews.com,
16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monkeypox
Cite this Entry
“Monkeypox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkeypox. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
monkeypox
noun
Note: As of 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the name mpox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.
