: 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
Joanna died in July 2025, per the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which acknowledged her death in a post on Facebook.
—
Avalon Hester, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1986: Roy Cohn died of complications of AIDS in Bethesda, Maryland.
—AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The boom was over, the AIDS and crack epidemics were raging, crime was soaring, and the city was collapsing around him.
—Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
But Lana was her own person: an actor, a comedian, beloved by her family and friends, a kind, talented woman who volunteered weekly for the AIDS charity Project Angel Food during the 80s, a time when many people would barely say the word AIDS aloud.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
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Avalon Hester, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1986: Roy Cohn died of complications of AIDS in Bethesda, Maryland.
—AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025
The boom was over, the AIDS and crack epidemics were raging, crime was soaring, and the city was collapsing around him.
—Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
But Lana was her own person: an actor, a comedian, beloved by her family and friends, a kind, talented woman who volunteered weekly for the AIDS charity Project Angel Food during the 80s, a time when many people would barely say the word AIDS aloud.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 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 20 Aug. 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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