malaria

noun

ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
1
a
: a human disease that is caused by sporozoan parasites (genus Plasmodium) in the red blood cells, is transmitted by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever
b
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals caused by blood protozoans
2
archaic : air infected with a noxious substance capable of causing disease
especially : miasma
malarial adjective
malarious adjective

Examples of malaria 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.
Products like mosquito nets and bug sprays can help prevent mosquito bites and the spread of malaria. Devika Rao, theweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Even the lower figure would be more than the number of people dying from AIDS and malaria combined. Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024 In 2001–the year before the Global Fund was founded–AIDS, TB and malaria killed a staggering 4.6 million people globally. Peter Sands, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Bill Gates helped launch a global health revolution at the turn of the 21st century, one in which multilateral humanitarian efforts arrested the AIDS crisis in Africa and began to make strides against longtime killers like tuberculosis and malaria. Dylan Scott, Vox, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for malaria 

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from mala aria bad air

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of malaria was in 1740

Dictionary Entries Near malaria

Cite this Entry

“Malaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malaria. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

malaria

noun
ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
: a disease caused by protozoan parasites in the red blood cells, passed from one individual to another by the bite of mosquitoes, and marked by periodic attacks of chills and fever
malarial adjective

Medical Definition

malaria

noun
ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
1
: an acute or chronic disease caused by the presence of sporozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium in the red blood cells, transmitted from an infected to an uninfected individual by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells and the release of toxic substances by the parasite at the end of each reproductive cycle
malaria remains the greatest single cause of debilitation and death throughout the worldThe Journal of the American Medical Association
see falciparum malaria, vivax malaria
2
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals that are more or less similar to malaria of human beings and are caused by blood protozoans

More from Merriam-Webster on malaria

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