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hepatitis B

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a DNA virus (Orthohepadnavirus hominoidei of the family Hepadnaviridae), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, jaundice, and joint pain but may be asymptomatic, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected bodily fluids (such as semen)

Note: The acute form of hepatitis B, a mild illness lasting several weeks to months, may progress to long-term or chronic infection often leading to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

called also serum hepatitis

Examples of hepatitis B in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The trial would randomize half of the newborns to either receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth or get no vaccine in a bid to look at its short-term health effects. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 15 Jan. 2026 For hepatitis B, also now excluded, many adults show no symptoms and can easily infect babies. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2026 In December, the advisory panel reversed a decadeslong recommendation that all infants be vaccinated against hepatitis B shortly after birth, recommending instead that women who test negative for hepatitis B talk to their doctors about whether to give their newborn the first dose right away. —Rebecca Shabad, NBC news, 13 Jan. 2026 Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made the announcement in September targeting shots against hepatitis B, chickenpox, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal bacteria. —Allison Ong, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hepatitis B

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hepatitis B was in 1971

Rhymes for hepatitis B

See All Rhymes for hepatitis B

Browse Nearby Words

hepatitis A
hepatitis B
hepatitis C
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hepatitis B.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatitis%20B. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

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Medical Definition

hepatitis B

noun
-ˈbē How to pronounce hepatitis B (audio)
: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by a double-stranded DNA virus (Orthohepadnavirus hominoidei of the family Hepadnaviridae), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, jaundice, and joint pain but may be asymptomatic, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected body fluids (such as semen)

Note: The acute form of hepatitis B, a mild illness lasting several weeks to months, may progress to long-term or chronic infection often leading to liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer.

called also homologous serum hepatitis, homologous serum jaundice, serum hepatitis

More from Merriam-Webster on hepatitis B

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hepatitis B

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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