antiviral: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific, Medical, Everyday (especially in public health contexts)
Quick answer
What does “antiviral” mean?
Relating to or being a substance (such as a drug) that is used to treat or prevent infections caused by viruses.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or being a substance (such as a drug) that is used to treat or prevent infections caused by viruses.
A substance, typically a medication, that inhibits the growth or replication of a virus. Can also describe protective actions or technologies aimed at countering computer viruses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Spelling is identical. The computing term 'antivirus' is preferred in both variants, though 'antiviral' is occasionally used.
Connotations
Neutral scientific/medical term in both. Gained high public profile during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frequency
Frequency spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains elevated in medical and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “antiviral” in a Sentence
antiviral [noun] (e.g., antiviral drug)[verb] + antiviral (e.g., prescribe an antiviral)antiviral + against + [virus] (e.g., antiviral against influenza)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antiviral” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The hospital has a new stockpile of antiviral medications.
- She is participating in an antiviral drug trial.
American English
- The FDA approved a new antiviral treatment.
- Researchers are studying its antiviral effects.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the pharmaceutical market sector (e.g., 'The antiviral segment is growing.')
Academic
Used in medical, virology, and pharmacology papers to describe substances or mechanisms.
Everyday
Common in health discussions (e.g., 'The doctor gave me an antiviral for my flu.')
Technical
Precise term in medicine/pharmacology for a class of drugs; in computing, it's a less standard variant of 'antivirus'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antiviral”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antiviral”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antiviral”
- Using 'antiviral' for software (prefer 'antivirus').
- Confusing 'antiviral' (adjective/noun) with 'antivirus' (noun).
- Misspelling as 'anti-viral' (hyphen is generally dropped in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Antivirals are specifically for viral infections (e.g., flu, HIV). Antibiotics are for bacterial infections (e.g., strep throat). Using antibiotics for viruses is ineffective and contributes to resistance.
Yes. In medical contexts, it commonly functions as a countable noun (e.g., 'He was taking two antivirals').
'Antiviral' primarily refers to medical treatments for biological viruses. 'Antivirus' (or 'anti-virus') is the standard term for software that protects against computer viruses.
Not always. Many antivirals suppress viral replication and manage symptoms but do not fully eradicate the virus. Some, however, can lead to a functional cure (e.g., for Hepatitis C).
Relating to or being a substance (such as a drug) that is used to treat or prevent infections caused by viruses.
Antiviral is usually technical/scientific, medical, everyday (especially in public health contexts) in register.
Antiviral: in British English it is pronounced /ˌantɪˈvaɪrəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæntiˈvaɪrəl/ˌˌænˌtaɪˈvaɪrəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On an antiviral regimen”
- “Threw the antiviral book at it (informal medical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANTI-VIRAL: Think 'ANTI-VIRUS' – it works AGAINST a VIRUS.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR (A substance that FIGHTS/COMBATS an invading virus).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'antiviral' LEAST appropriate?