: 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
But nonprofits are sounding the alarm that HIV/AIDS projects have been terminated regardless.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
In 1994, And the Band Played On, a sprawling work about the early days of the AIDS crisis, earned 14 nominations, second that year only to NYPD Blue’s record-setting haul of 27.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Army Archerd of Variety shocked Hollywood in breaking the story that Rock Hudson was succumbing to AIDS.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The committee now contains seven members hand-selected by Kennedy, including Robert Malone, who has falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines cause a form of AIDS, and Retsef Levi, who said in a 2023 video that COVID-19 vaccines should be removed from the market.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2025
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Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
In 1994, And the Band Played On, a sprawling work about the early days of the AIDS crisis, earned 14 nominations, second that year only to NYPD Blue’s record-setting haul of 27.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Army Archerd of Variety shocked Hollywood in breaking the story that Rock Hudson was succumbing to AIDS.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The committee now contains seven members hand-selected by Kennedy, including Robert Malone, who has falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines cause a form of AIDS, and Retsef Levi, who said in a 2023 video that COVID-19 vaccines should be removed from the market.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 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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