malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə 
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
Examples of malaria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Vectors means the insects spread diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya in humans, or heartworm parasites in dogs.
—
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman both spoke Thursday about continuing efforts to eradicate polio and reduce the impact of malaria–part of a larger foundation goal to reduce the spread of infectious disease.
—Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Three people died of malaria in February, Mr. Waladi says.
—Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 May 2025
His ultimate goal: save tens of millions of lives, especially those of women and children suffering from HIV, malaria and other deadly illnesses.
—Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malaria
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Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman both spoke Thursday about continuing efforts to eradicate polio and reduce the impact of malaria–part of a larger foundation goal to reduce the spread of infectious disease.
—Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Three people died of malaria in February, Mr. Waladi says.
—Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 May 2025
His ultimate goal: save tens of millions of lives, especially those of women and children suffering from HIV, malaria and other deadly illnesses.
—Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malaria
Cite this Entry
“Malaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malaria. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə
: 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
Medical Definition
malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə
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 world—The Journal of the American Medical Association
see falciparum malaria, vivax malaria
The Journal of the American Medical Association2
: 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
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