aids

1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of aid entry 1

plural of aid entry 2

AIDS

2 of 2

noun

ˈādz 

: 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

called also acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Examples of aids in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After his best friend died of AIDS, activist Cleve Jones channeled his grief into a sewing project that became the AIDS Memorial Quilt. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

The organization has release 21 compilations and raised over $10 million since; its subsequent television special on ABC became one of the first major AIDS benefits in the music business. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

In his final years, Haring created powerful political imagery and was a particularly outspoken advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

These are ways of memorializing not merely dead friends but often also their long days of dying in a time when AIDS was a death sentence. — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

First Known Use

Noun

1982, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aids

• AIDS-related complex
• AIDS virus
• anti-AIDS

Rhymes for aids

• aides
• blades
• braids
• cades
• fades
• glades
• grades
• jades
• maids
• nsaids
• plaids
• raids

Kids Definition

AIDS

noun

ˈādz 

: 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

ˈādz 

: 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