: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
For decades, the CDC has been the backbone of global health partnerships, supporting Africa in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, Ebola and now COVID-19.
—
Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
The annual amfAR gala supports the Foundation for AIDS Research’s efforts to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025
Still, lawyers from the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented festival organizer Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group, argued the city did not uniformly apply the policy.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025
The gala is held in benefit of The Foundation for AIDS Research, which has raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide since 1985, according to its official website.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
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Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
The annual amfAR gala supports the Foundation for AIDS Research’s efforts to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025
Still, lawyers from the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented festival organizer Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group, argued the city did not uniformly apply the policy.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025
The gala is held in benefit of The Foundation for AIDS Research, which has raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide since 1985, according to its official website.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 1 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 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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