viral
UK: ˈvaɪrəl | US: ˈvaɪrəl
adj. relating to or caused by a virus
adj. (of content) spreading rapidly and widely online
viral = vir<virus> + al<adjective suffix>
- vir <virus>: From Latin virus (poison, slime, venom), later adopted in biology to mean "infectious agent."
- al <adjective suffix>: A suffix of Latin origin used to form adjectives meaning "pertaining to" (e.g., natural, digital).
Etymology Origin:
The word viral originates from the Latin virus, which initially referred to poisonous substances. By the 18th century, virus gained its modern biological meaning as a microscopic infectious agent. The suffix -al was added to form the adjective viral, first used in medical contexts (e.g., viral infection). In the 21st century, viral expanded metaphorically to describe digital content spreading rapidly, akin to a biological virus.
The video went viral on social media within hours.
She contracted a viral infection during her trip.
Viral marketing relies on organic sharing by users.
The doctor confirmed it was a viral fever, not bacterial.
His tweet became viral after a celebrity shared it.