Tech & Science dictionary
Lambda variant
or lambda variant or Lambda Variant [ lam-duh vair-ee-uhnt ]
What is the Lambda variant?
The Lambda variant is a variant of the COVID-19 virus. Lambda variant is the common name used to refer to what is technically known as the C.37 variant.
A variant of a virus is a new strain that has emerged due to a mutation (or mutations) in the virus’s genetic structure.
The Lambda variant was first recorded in South America.
Use and awareness of the name Lambda variant became more common in news reports and public health communications in the summer of 2021 as an increasing number of variants of the COVID-19 virus were reported, including the Delta variant (whose discovery preceded the Lambda variant).
Where does Lambda variant come from?
The Lambda variant is believed to have emerged in Peru in late 2020. In the name Lambda variant, the word lambda refers to the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet. Greek letters have been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the naming of COVID-19 variants, including those named Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. In June 2021, the WHO classified the Lambda variant as a “Variant of Interest,” meaning its genetic changes could make it more severe and transmissible. (The Delta variant was changed from a “Variant of Interest” to the more serious classification of “Variant of Concern” in May 2021.)
The name Lambda variant became more well-known in 2021 as the media increasingly reported on emerging variants of COVID-19.
Examples of Lambda variant
Who uses Lambda variant?
The name Lambda variant is the most common way to refer to the COVID-19 variant that’s technically known as C.37. This name is used by health experts and in media reports.
My strong advice to anybody who wants to go anywhere near an indoor dining room: Get fully vaccinated, now, before we start talking about the lambda variant.
— Pete Wells (@pete_wells) August 3, 2021
I read the words “Lambda variant” today and promptly volunteered for one of those one-way trips to Mars.
— Josh Johnson (@secondfret) August 7, 2021
Wear a mask. 😷
I’m saying that because I care, not trying to force you to do something you don’t want to do.
This Lambda variant is in the US (Texas & SC) and thus far vaccine resistant and just as deadly as Delta.
MASK UP!
— Ryan Negri (@RyanNegri) August 4, 2021
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Lambda variant like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Lambda variant that will help our users expand their word mastery.