What does "viral" mean?
A video, image or text spread by "word of mouth" on the internet or by e-mail for humorous, political or marketing purposes.
Viral
/ˈvaɪɹəl/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A video, image or text spread by "word of mouth" on the internet or by e-mail for humorous, political or marketing purposes.
- Grammar: viral is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: infectious, pathogenic, popular, popular online.
- Useful contrasts: fungal infection, noninfectious, nonviral.
- Usage evidence: Her dance clip went viral overnight.
How to use "viral"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "viral" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "viral" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "viral" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "viral" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "viral" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "infectious" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "viral", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A video, image or text spread by "word of mouth" on the internet or by e-mail for humorous, political or marketing purposes.
"2002, Nik Lever, Flash Mx Games: ActionScript for Artists, Focal Press, page 411, Using the Flash ActiveX control in this way allows you as a developer to create desktop characters, email virals and screensavers."
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to a biological virus. not-comparable
"viral DNA"
- 2 Caused by a virus. not-comparable
"viral infection"
- 3 Of the nature of an informatic virus; able to spread copies of itself to other computers. not-comparable
- 4 Spread by word of mouth with minimal intervention, in order to create buzz and interest. not-comparable
"“Efficient way to disseminate information? I don't think.” “But it is,” Cayce insists. “The model's viral. ‘Deep niche.’ The venues would be carefully selected—”"
- 5 Circulated rapidly and widely from one user to another. not-comparable
"With some minutes to kill, he checks the headlines on his phone. Yet again, something dreadful and new which he doesn't understand is going viral. Today's fad is, you paint a black vertical rectangle on the wall, or on a mirror, or over the top of a picture. And then you chant something."
Adjective
- 1 relating to or caused by a virus wordnet
Slang
- 1 Spreading rapidly online. slang, social-media, 2010s-2020s
"Her dance clip went viral overnight."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Her dance clip went viral overnight."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "viral"?
Common synonyms include: infectious, pathogenic, popular, popular online, social network virality, trending.
How do you use "viral" in a sentence?
Her dance clip went viral overnight.
How do you pronounce "viral"?
Pronounced /ˈvaɪɹəl/.
Etymology
From virus + -al.