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: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some (such as Kaposi's sarcoma) that become life-threatening and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (such as semen) during sexual intercourse
Examples of AIDS in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But already some were seeing the effects: A hospital administrator trying to request an online fund transfer for HIV/AIDS funding approved until March was unable to do it.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, the union was probably doomed from the start, since Allen, who died in 1992 of AIDS complications at age 48, was gay.
—Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
But there is no cure for HIV or AIDS or a vaccine for human use to prevent infection.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Recognition of an emerging epidemic, which was later named AIDS, had begun.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
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Word History
Etymology
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
First Known Use
1982, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing AIDS
Dictionary Entries Near AIDS
Cite this Entry
“AIDS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AIDS. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
AIDS
noun
: a serious disease of the human immune system marked by destruction of a large proportion of the helper T cells in the body due to infection by the HIV virus commonly transmitted especially in blood and semen
Medical Definition
AIDS
noun
: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by a reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some that become life threatening (as Kaposi's sarcoma) and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (as semen) during sexual intercourse
called also acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
More from Merriam-Webster on AIDS
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about AIDS
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