viral
VYE-rul
/ˈvaɪrəl/
Relating to or involving an image, video, piece of information, etc., that is circulated rapidly and widely from one internet user to another.
Implies rapid, organic, and widespread dissemination, often through sharing on social media, much like a biological virus spreads.
The story behind the word. The word 'viral' comes from the Latin word 'virus,' which originally meant 'poison' or 'slimy liquid.' It later came to refer to disease-causing agents. The modern internet sense of 'viral' emerged in the early 2000s, drawing a vivid analogy between how a biological virus spreads rapidly from host to host and how digital content spreads quickly from user to user across the internet.
Word relationships
- widespread: General term for something common or extensive, lacks the 'rapid spread' implication.
- popular: Liked by many people, but not necessarily spread rapidly through sharing.
- ubiquitous: Present, appearing, or found everywhere, often implies a longer-term presence.
- obscure: Not discovered or known about; uncertain.
- unpopular: Not liked by many people.
Word family
- virality (noun): The tendency of an image, video, or piece of information to be circulated rapidly and widely.
Collocations
- go viral
- viral video
- viral marketing
- viral sensation
Example sentences
- "The video of the cat playing the piano went viral within hours, garnering millions of views." Discussing internet trends.
- "Our goal is to create content that is highly shareable and has the potential to go viral." A marketing strategy meeting.
Memory hook
Think of a 'VIRUS' spreading quickly from person to person, just like a 'viral' video spreads quickly online. Spreads like a bug
When not to use
Do not use for content that is merely popular or widely viewed but hasn't spread through rapid, user-driven sharing.
Fun facts
- The first widely recognized 'viral video' is often debated, but early contenders include 'The Dancing Baby' (1996) and 'Star Wars Kid' (2000).
Related words
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