dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē How to pronounce dengue (audio)
-ˌgā
: an acute infectious disease caused by a flavivirus (species Dengue virus of the genus Flavivirus), transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, and characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash

called also breakbone fever, dengue fever

Examples of dengue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Brazil registered more than 1 million cases of dengue fever in January and February alone. Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 Since the beginning of 2024, the municipality has registered more than 10,000 dengue cases. Eléonore Hughes, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024 The global number of dengue cases has increased eightfold in the past two decades, according to WHO, driven by higher temperatures and prologued rainy seasons. Shasta Darlington, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024 Most people infected with dengue will have mild or no symptoms. Dr. Adiba Matin, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023 In January alone, 362 people were hospitalized in Rio due to dengue — a record that tops the previous high from 2008, CNN Brasil reported. Shasta Darlington, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024 Rio city hall announced the opening of 10 care centers, the creation of an emergency operations center and the allocation of hospital beds for dengue patients. Eléonore Hughes, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024 Climate change can also alter the distribution of mosquitoes—which can carry West Nile virus, dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024 Most people who get dengue don’t develop symptoms, and most people get better in one to two weeks. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dengue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dengue was in 1828

Dictionary Entries Near dengue

Cite this Entry

“Dengue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dengue. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

dengue

noun
den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē How to pronounce dengue (audio) -ˌgā How to pronounce dengue (audio)
: an acute infectious disease that is characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash and that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (species Dengue virus) transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes

called also breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue fever

More from Merriam-Webster on dengue

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