AIDS

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for AIDS 

Word History

Etymology

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of AIDS was in 1982

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

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