antivirus

A1N1T1I1V4I1R1U1S1
/ˈantɪvʌɪrəs/

noun

A piece of software that is used to detect, delete and or neutralize computer-based viruses.

OriginEnglish virus ← Middle English virus ← Latin vīrus →
CommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounantivirus (plural antiviruses)

plural antiviruses

  1. computingA piece of software that is used to detect, delete and or neutralize computer-based viruses.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ent-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂énts
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂énti
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓ντῐ́ (ăntĭ́)
  5. Ancient Greekἀντι- (anti-)
  6. Englishanti-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*weys-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*wisós
  9. Proto-Italic*weizos
  10. Latinvīrus
  11. Middle Englishvirus
  12. Englishvirus
  13. Englishantivirus

From anti- + virus.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian антиви́русна програ́ма, антиви́русна
  • антиви́русна програ́ма (antivírusna prográma)computing software
  • антиви́русна (antivírusna)computing software
  • антиви́русен со́фтуер (antivírusen sóftuer)computing software
Catalan antivirus
  • antiviruscomputing software
Chinese Cantonese 防毒, 防毒軟件 /防毒软件
  • 防毒 (fong⁴ duk⁶)computing software
  • 防毒軟件 /防毒软件computing software
Chinese Mandarin 防毒, 防病毒
  • 防毒 (fángdú)computing software
  • 防病毒 (fángbìngdú)computing software
  • 殺毒軟件 /杀毒软件 (shādú ruǎnjiàn)computing software
  • 防毒軟體 /防毒软体 (fángdú ruǎntǐ)computing software
Finnish virustorjuntaohjelma, virustorjunta
  • virustorjuntaohjelmacomputing software
  • virustorjuntacomputing software
  • antivirusohjelmacomputing software
French antivirus
  • antiviruscomputing software
German Antivirus, Antivirenprogramm (antivirus program)
  • Antiviruscomputing software
  • Antivirenprogramm (antivirus program)computing software
  • Antivirensoftwarecomputing software
Greek αντιιικό
  • αντιιικό (antiiikó)computing software
Icelandic vírusvörn
  • vírusvörncomputing software
Japanese アンチウイルス, アンチウィルス
  • アンチウイルス (anchiuirusu)computing software
  • アンチウィルス (anchiwirusu)computing software
  • 抗ウイルス (kō-uirusu)computing software
  • 抗ウィルス (kō-wirusu)computing software
Polish antywirus
  • antywiruscomputing software
Portuguese antivírus
  • antivíruscomputing software
Russian антиви́рус
  • антиви́рус (antivírus)computing software
Spanish antivirus
  • antiviruscomputing software
Swedish antivirusprogram, antivirus
  • antivirusprogramcomputing software
  • antiviruscomputing software
Ukrainian антивірус
  • антивірус (antyvirus)computing software
Welsh gwrthfeirws
  • gwrthfeirwscomputing software
Cite this entry
APA

antivirus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antivirus

MLA

“antivirus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antivirus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antivirus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antivirus.

Source: antivirus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.