leukemia

noun

leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
: an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood
leukemic adjective or noun

Examples of leukemia 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.
Kirk was open about Ben’s health issues, sharing on X (formerly Twitter) in September 2024 that he was diagnosed with leukemia several months earlier in March. Francesca Gariano, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024 His son Joseph said the death was from complications of leukemia. Clay Risen, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2024 He was later selected No. 1 in the NFL draft but never played an NFL game, as he was diagnosed with leukemia and died in March 1963. The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2024 Caden was in the fifth grade at Sycamore Ridge School when he was first diagnosed with leukemia, a terrible shock for the entire family. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for leukemia 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leukemia was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near leukemia

Cite this Entry

“Leukemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leukemia. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

leukemia

noun
leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
: a disease of warm-blooded animals including human beings that is a kind of cancer in which there is an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood
leukemic adjective

Medical Definition

leukemia

noun
leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
variants also leucemia
lü-ˈkē- also lü-ˈsē-
or chiefly British leukaemia also leucaemia
: an acute or chronic disease of unknown cause in humans and other warm-blooded animals that involves the blood-forming organs, is characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues of the body with or without a corresponding increase of those in the circulating blood, and is classified according to the type of white blood cell most prominently involved see acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, feline leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myelogenous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia

More from Merriam-Webster on leukemia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!