Definition

A man-made medicine that helps fight certain viral infections by stopping the virus from making copies of itself.

Example

The doctor prescribed ribavirin to help treat the patient's viral infection.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of ribavirin?

Yeah, I think it's used to treat certain viral infections, right?

Exactly! It's an antiviral medication that helps with things like respiratory syncytial virus.

That's really interesting — I didn't know it had that specific use!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ribavirin is a synthetic antiviral drug, and its name is derived from the components 'ribose' (from the sugar molecule ribose, which is a component of RNA) and 'virin' (a suffix used in the names of antiviral agents). The word combines the idea of a ribose component with a reference to its function as an antiviral agent.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ribose' as a sugar that is part of RNA, and 'virin' as a hint that it fights viruses. This helps you remember that ribavirin is an antiviral medication.

Visually Confused Words