prion disease
noun
: any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Examples of prion disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The prion disease, first identified in a Colorado research facility in the 1970s, has been making headlines for decades.
—
Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease — a rare, neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins, called prions, that damage brain tissue.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The letter also notes that lions help curb the spread among ungulates of chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious prion disease, by removing sick animals.
—Byhannah Richter, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024
In the pilot episode, directed by Larry Teng, Watson is confronted with a case of fatal familial insomnia which is coupled with the challenge of trying to help a pregnant woman with the neurodegenerative prion disease live long enough to deliver her baby.
—Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prion disease 
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.
Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease — a rare, neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins, called prions, that damage brain tissue.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The letter also notes that lions help curb the spread among ungulates of chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious prion disease, by removing sick animals.
—Byhannah Richter, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024
In the pilot episode, directed by Larry Teng, Watson is confronted with a case of fatal familial insomnia which is coupled with the challenge of trying to help a pregnant woman with the neurodegenerative prion disease live long enough to deliver her baby.
—Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prion disease
Dictionary Entries Near prion disease
Cite this Entry
“Prion disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prion%20disease. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share