: 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
The Senate amended a bill (HB 697) dealing with drug costs to include $31 million to restore eligibility to the thousands of people in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program who lost coverage on March 1.
—
Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The Florida Senate has unanimously approved money to help bridge a funding gap in a state program that provides life-saving HIV/AIDS medication andpayment assistance to nearly 30,000 low-income residents.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
A week after Florida cut nearly 12,000 people off the state program providing affordable access to life-saving HIV/AIDS medication, state senators are making a last-minute move to fund the program in full for the next few months.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The movie features the Texan actor as the real-life rodeo cowboy dying of AIDS who brought experimental drugs from across the border to fellow patients in desperate need of hope.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
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Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The Florida Senate has unanimously approved money to help bridge a funding gap in a state program that provides life-saving HIV/AIDS medication andpayment assistance to nearly 30,000 low-income residents.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
A week after Florida cut nearly 12,000 people off the state program providing affordable access to life-saving HIV/AIDS medication, state senators are making a last-minute move to fund the program in full for the next few months.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The movie features the Texan actor as the real-life rodeo cowboy dying of AIDS who brought experimental drugs from across the border to fellow patients in desperate need of hope.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for AIDS
Cite this Entry
“AIDS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AIDS. Accessed 15 Mar. 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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
