Virus: meaning, definitions and examples

A virus is a type of microorganism that can cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants. It is often used when talking about specific illnesses like the flu or COVID-19.

• The doctor said Sarah has a common virus and should recover in a few days.
• The COVID-19 virus has affected millions of people worldwide.

A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease. It includes viruses, bacteria, and other infectious agents. It is often used in medical and scientific discussions.

• Proper hygiene can help prevent the spread of pathogens.
• The researchers identified the pathogen responsible for the outbreak.

A microorganism is a microscopic organism, which may be a single-celled or multicellular entity. This term is used in scientific and educational contexts to refer to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

• Scientists are studying various microorganisms to understand their role in human disease.
• Microorganisms are essential for the decomposition process in nature.

Infection is the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may or may not cause disease. It is a more general term and can refer to bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.

• She has a throat infection that needs antibiotics to treat.
• Wounds that are not properly cleaned can develop an infection.

Used to describe malicious software that attaches itself to a host program and replicates when the host program is executed. Commonly used in general speech about computer infections.

• My computer got infected with a virus, and I had to reinstall the operating system.
• Make sure your antivirus software is up to date to protect against new viruses.

A broad term that refers to any kind of malicious software, including viruses, worms, trojans, and more. Used in technical and security contexts.

• The cybersecurity team scans for malware regularly to keep our systems safe.
• Educate employees about the risks of malware to prevent data breaches.

Refers to a type of malware that replicates itself to spread to other computers, often over a network. Used in discussions about network security and specific threats.

• The worm spread through the office network, affecting multiple computers.
• Network security measures are crucial to prevent worm infections.

Refers to a type of malicious software that disguises itself as a legitimate program to gain access to systems. Often used in technical discussions about specific computer threats.

• The antivirus software detected a trojan hidden in the email attachment.
• Trojan horses can steal sensitive information from your computer without your knowledge.