virulence Definition
- 1the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison
- 2the ability of a microorganism to cause disease
Using virulence: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "virulence" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The virulence of the virus caused widespread panic.
Example
The virulence of the poison was evident in the speed with which it killed the victim.
Example
The bacteria's virulence made it difficult to treat the infection.
virulence Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for virulence
Phrases with virulence
Example
The highly virulent strain of the virus spread rapidly through the population.
a specific characteristic of a microorganism that contributes to its ability to cause disease
Example
The bacteria's virulence factors included its ability to produce toxins and evade the immune system.
Example
Scientists are studying the virulence genes of the bacteria to better understand how it causes disease.
Origins of virulence
from Latin 'virulentia', meaning 'poisonous'
Summary: virulence in Brief
The term 'virulence' [ˈvɪrjələns] refers to the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison, as well as the ability of a microorganism to cause disease. It is often used to describe the potency of a pathogen or toxin, such as 'The virulence of the virus caused widespread panic.' 'Virulence' can also refer to specific characteristics of microorganisms that contribute to their ability to cause disease, as in 'virulence factor' and 'virulence gene.'
