Epstein-Barr virus
noun
Ep·stein-Barr virus
ˌep-ˌstīn-ˈbär- 
: a herpesvirus (Lymphocryptovirus humangamma4) that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma
—abbreviation EBV
Examples of Epstein-Barr virus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The agency has paused testing for 31 diseases as of this week, including rabies, chickenpox and Epstein-Barr virus.
—
Joseph Choi, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2026
Some of the paused testing focuses on common infections for which commercial testing is available, like Epstein-Barr virus, and the varicella zoster virus behind chickenpox and shingles.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The fallout from that ordeal, in addition to being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, led to Barber pulling out of a main event fight against fellow Coloradan Rose Namajunas at Ball Arena that July.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
The research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, tried to unravel why some people who contract the Epstein-Barr virus go on to experience other medical conditions later in life.
—Ashleigh Furlong, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
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Joseph Choi, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2026
Some of the paused testing focuses on common infections for which commercial testing is available, like Epstein-Barr virus, and the varicella zoster virus behind chickenpox and shingles.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The fallout from that ordeal, in addition to being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, led to Barber pulling out of a main event fight against fellow Coloradan Rose Namajunas at Ball Arena that July.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
The research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, tried to unravel why some people who contract the Epstein-Barr virus go on to experience other medical conditions later in life.
—Ashleigh Furlong, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for Epstein-Barr virus
Cite this Entry
“Epstein-Barr virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Epstein-Barr%20virus. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Epstein-Barr virus
noun
Ep·stein-Barr virus
ˌep-ˌstīn-ˌbär-
: a herpesvirus (Lymphocryptovirus humangamma4) that causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma
—abbreviation EBV
called also EB virus
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
