leukemia

noun

leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
: an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood
leukemic adjective or noun

Examples of leukemia 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.
Their discovery could pave the way to simulate blood disorders like leukemia and produce long-lasting stem cells for transplants. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 The 8-year-old boy had been battling acute promyelocytic leukemia, his family announced in July. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 She was nominated for her work as an activist in Warren Beatty’s Reds (1981) and as a woman with leukemia in Marvin’s Room (1996) as well. Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025 Here’s how Miami is celebrating The 15-year-old Italian — born in London to Italian parents and later living in Italy — died of leukemia in 2006, but his impact is still felt by the Catholic community worldwide — including in Miami. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leukemia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leukemia was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Leukemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leukemia. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

leukemia

noun
leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
: a disease of warm-blooded animals including human beings that is a kind of cancer in which there is an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood
leukemic adjective

Medical Definition

leukemia

noun
leu·​ke·​mia lü-ˈkē-mē-ə How to pronounce leukemia (audio)
variants also leucemia
lü-ˈkē- also lü-ˈsē-
or chiefly British leukaemia also leucaemia
: an acute or chronic disease of unknown cause in humans and other warm-blooded animals that involves the blood-forming organs, is characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues of the body with or without a corresponding increase of those in the circulating blood, and is classified according to the type of white blood cell most prominently involved see acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, feline leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myelogenous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia

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