: 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
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Over the past three decades, the organization has grown into one of the world’s largest independent AIDS charity organizations.
—
Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 2 Mar. 2025
This was soon followed by a waiver for some activities under PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Among those to receive termination letters was the UNAIDS program, which delivers care to HIV/AIDS patients around the world.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
Federal grants make up roughly two-thirds of its budget, funding efforts to detect avian flu and other infectious diseases, control HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and provide services for chronically ill children, the department said.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
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Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 2 Mar. 2025
This was soon followed by a waiver for some activities under PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Among those to receive termination letters was the UNAIDS program, which delivers care to HIV/AIDS patients around the world.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
Federal grants make up roughly two-thirds of its budget, funding efforts to detect avian flu and other infectious diseases, control HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and provide services for chronically ill children, the department said.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 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 12 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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