: 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
Princess Diana's trip to New York City in 1989 was her first solo overseas trip as a working royal and included a memorable stop at the AIDS unit of Harlem Hospital, connecting to her wider work of smashing stigmas around the disease.
—
Janine Henni, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
It was used in the Silence = Death campaign to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic, and to criticize the government's inaction on the virus.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
My David Wojnarowicz So many of my friends died from AIDS.
—Kim Hastreiter, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2025
The bill launched a program, known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), that allocated $15 billion for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria prevention and treatment programs in low-income countries.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
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Janine Henni, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
It was used in the Silence = Death campaign to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic, and to criticize the government's inaction on the virus.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
My David Wojnarowicz So many of my friends died from AIDS.
—Kim Hastreiter, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2025
The bill launched a program, known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), that allocated $15 billion for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria prevention and treatment programs in low-income countries.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for AIDS
Cite this Entry
“AIDS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AIDS. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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