: 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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Levinson has cited David Wojnarowicz’s haunted, unflinching writing on the AIDS crisis as an influence, and the lyric sheet is littered with pets and prayers and names of friends, giving their music the feeling of a community being preserved in song.
—
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The Southern Indiana city of 2,600 people and festival organizer Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group have fought for years over LGBTQ expression on city property, specifically where the annual PrideFest would be held.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
For example, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute has information for providers.
—Zach Dyer, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
In May 2003, a severe illness Dunn thought was Parkinson’s disease turned out to be HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
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Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The Southern Indiana city of 2,600 people and festival organizer Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group have fought for years over LGBTQ expression on city property, specifically where the annual PrideFest would be held.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
For example, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute has information for providers.
—Zach Dyer, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
In May 2003, a severe illness Dunn thought was Parkinson’s disease turned out to be HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
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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