adj
Common
viral
VEYE-ruhl
Viral (adj) means relating to, or caused by, a virus. Example: “A viral infection usually clears up without any antibiotics.”
adj
1
Relating to, or caused by, a virus.
"A viral infection usually clears up without any antibiotics."
"Several pupils were off school with a nasty viral illness."
"The doctor confirmed it was a viral infection, not bacterial."
2
Spreading extremely fast from person to person, especially online.
"The recipe went viral after one chef shared it online."
"The video of the dancing dog went viral within hours."
"Her tweet went viral and was shared over a million times."
noun
1
A piece of content, such as a video or post, that spreads rapidly online.
"It is hard to plan a viral because nobody can predict what people will share."
"That joke video became the biggest viral of the week."
"The marketing team was hoping to create a viral, not just another ad."
How to use viral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "caused by a virus" or, more commonly now, "spreading incredibly fast online."
Common pairings
go viral
a viral video
viral infection
viral marketing
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Word forms
- Plural
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A _____ infection usually clears up without any antibiotics.
Etymology
From virus plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for viral
See all rhymes for viral →Frequently asked questions
What does “viral” mean?
The word “viral” means relating to, or caused by, a virus. In plain terms, either "caused by a virus" or, more commonly now, "spreading incredibly fast online.".
How do you pronounce “viral”?
“Viral” is pronounced VEYE-ruhl (/ˈvaɪɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “viral” in a sentence?
Here is “viral” used in a sentence: “The doctor confirmed it was a viral infection, not bacterial.”
What is another word for “viral”?
Words with a similar meaning to “viral” include virous.
What part of speech is “viral”?
Depending on how it is used, “viral” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “viral” a common word?
“Viral” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “viral” have?
“Viral” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to, or caused by, a virus.
What is the difference between a viral and a bacterial infection?
A viral infection is caused by a virus, while a bacterial infection is caused by bacteria — two different kinds of microorganisms. The distinction matters for treatment, because antibiotics can treat bacterial infections but are ineffective against viral ones.
Does "viral" always refer to the internet?
No. The original sense of "viral" is medical — relating to or caused by a virus, as in "a viral infection" — and the online sense of spreading rapidly is a figurative extension of it. Context makes clear which sense is meant.
What is viral marketing?
Viral marketing is a strategy that designs content people will want to share, so the message spreads rapidly from person to person online rather than relying on paid placement alone. The name borrows the sense of "viral" that describes fast, self-multiplying spread.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing viral in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Going viral is less about the content being good than about it being easy to pass on — the share has to cost the sharer nothing.
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