# monkeypox

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A disease of the skin of rodents and primates, including humans, caused by virus of species Orthopoxvirus monkeypox.

## Etymology
From monkey + pox; originally so named based on cases in monkeys, although the name was a misnomer because monkeys are less of a reservoir for the disease than other animals are. More at Wikipedia (mpox § Nomenclature).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/monkeypox