Word
hepatitis
Phoneticshep·ati·tis
US/ˌhɛpəˈtaɪtəs/
UK/hˌɛpɐtˈaɪtɪs/
Definition
n. a serious disease that makes your liver swell and become painful. It is often caused by a virus and can make your skin look yellow.
n. an inflammatory condition of the liver, typically caused by a viral infection but also potentially by toxins or autoimmune responses.
Examples
“The doctor tested him for hepatitis after he felt very tired.”
“Public health officials launched a campaign to encourage vaccinations against hepatitis B for all healthcare workers.”
“Chronic hepatitis can lead to permanent liver damage or cirrhosis if the underlying inflammation is not managed through antiviral medication or significant lifestyle changes.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor tested him for hepatitis after he felt very tired.”
contextual
“Public health officials launched a campaign to encourage vaccinations against hepatitis B for all healthcare workers.”
complex
“Chronic hepatitis can lead to permanent liver damage or cirrhosis if the underlying inflammation is not managed through antiviral medication or significant lifestyle changes.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the disease generally; countable when referring to specific viral strains (e.g., 'hepatitis A and B are different hepatitises').
Real-World Examples
“England is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, a dangerous virus that attacks the liver, figures show.” “In 1991, the CDC added the hepatitis B vaccination at birth to the schedule.” Etymology
From Latin hēpatītis, from hēpar (“liver”), from Ancient Greek ἧπαρ (hêpar, “liver”). By surface analysis, hepat- + -itis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hepatitis