cowpox

noun

cow·​pox ˈkau̇-ˌpäks How to pronounce cowpox (audio)
: a mild eruptive disease of the cow that is caused by a poxvirus (species Cowpox virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus) and that when communicated to humans protects against smallpox

Examples of cowpox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Case in point: nearly a century before Albert Nobel died in 1896, Edward Jenner demonstrated that inoculation with cowpox, a relatively mild virus, confers immunity against smallpox. Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 The virus belongs to a large family of viruses known to cause disease in humans and other animals, including smallpox, or variola, cowpox, Alaskapox, and vaccinia, a weakened form of which is used in mpox and smallpox vaccines. Robert Hart, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024 The immunization had been successful, supporting conventional wisdom that those who survived cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox disease. San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024 Vaccines were first discovered as an effective way to prevent viral infections 227 years ago when Edward Jenner, an English physician, used liquid from a cowpox lesion to create an injectable material that prevented the symptoms of smallpox, according to the study. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cowpox 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cowpox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cowpox was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near cowpox

Cite this Entry

“Cowpox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowpox. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cowpox

noun
cow·​pox ˈkau̇-ˌpäks How to pronounce cowpox (audio)
: a mild disease of the cow that is caused by a virus and that when passed on to human beings produces a temporary rash and protects against smallpox

Medical Definition

cowpox

noun
cow·​pox ˈkau̇-ˌpäks How to pronounce cowpox (audio)
: a mild eruptive disease of the cow that is caused by a poxvirus of the genus Orthopoxvirus (species Cowpox virus) and that when communicated to humans protects against smallpox

called also variola vaccinia

More from Merriam-Webster on cowpox

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