: 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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The measure, titled the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, would legalize the use of cannabis for patients with certain qualifying debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
On Thursday morning, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department headquarters to protest funding cuts to the global program known as PEPFAR, or the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
—Orion Rummler, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
That 60 Minutes piece was seen by 20 million viewers and was the first time the general public was alerted that AIDS could be transmitted by heterosexual body fluids, in this case amniotic fluid, in the womb or shared blood with the mother.
—Paul Keane, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
According to the memo, the plan calls for slashing the CDC’s budget by more than 40% and eliminating both its global health center and programs focused on chronic disease prevention and domestic HIV/AIDS prevention.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
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A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
On Thursday morning, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department headquarters to protest funding cuts to the global program known as PEPFAR, or the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
—Orion Rummler, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
That 60 Minutes piece was seen by 20 million viewers and was the first time the general public was alerted that AIDS could be transmitted by heterosexual body fluids, in this case amniotic fluid, in the womb or shared blood with the mother.
—Paul Keane, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
According to the memo, the plan calls for slashing the CDC’s budget by more than 40% and eliminating both its global health center and programs focused on chronic disease prevention and domestic HIV/AIDS prevention.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 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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