rotavirus
noun
ro·ta·vi·rus
ˈrō-tə-ˌvī-rəs 
plural rotaviruses
: any of a genus (Rotavirus) of reoviruses that have a three-layered protein capsid with no outer lipid envelope when mature and that include one (Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children
Examples of rotavirus in a Sentence
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The others — for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, flu and chickenpox — do not.
—
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Dec. 2025
Denmark also does not recommend vaccinating against hepatitis B for all infants, as well as hepatitis A and rotavirus for any infants and children.
—Lena H. Sun, Arkansas Online, 21 Dec. 2025
Denmark also doesn’t recommend vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal, flu or chickenpox, all of which are on the schedule for children in the US.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
But there is variation in requirements for others, such as varicella (chicken pox), meningococcal, rotavirus, influenza, and hepatitis A and B vaccines.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotavirus
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Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Dec. 2025
Denmark also does not recommend vaccinating against hepatitis B for all infants, as well as hepatitis A and rotavirus for any infants and children.
—Lena H. Sun, Arkansas Online, 21 Dec. 2025
Denmark also doesn’t recommend vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal, flu or chickenpox, all of which are on the schedule for children in the US.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
But there is variation in requirements for others, such as varicella (chicken pox), meningococcal, rotavirus, influenza, and hepatitis A and B vaccines.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotavirus
Cite this Entry
“Rotavirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotavirus. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
rotavirus
noun
ro·ta·vi·rus
ˈrōt-ə-ˌvī-rəs
1
Rotavirus
: a genus of reoviruses that are causative agents of gastroenteritis and that include one (Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children
Note: Viruses of the genus Rotavirus have a virion with a three-layered protein capsid lacking an outer lipid envelope when mature and a core of 11 discrete segments of double-stranded RNA.
2
: any virus of the genus Rotavirus
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