: 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
Funded by grants from the Annenberg Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, along with support from entertainment companies, Every Day Action is helping to employ film industry workers too.
—
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
The Gilead case stems from a civil lawsuit, filed under seal in August 2016, by Dr. Paul Bellman, a New York physician who specialized in treating patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
At the peak of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1990s and early 2000s, these communities were very hard hit — for example, one study from 2001 found that in South Africa 56% of truck drivers surveyed were HIV-positive.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
Some events, such as the display of parts of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, plan to move to different venues.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025
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Pat Saperstein, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
The Gilead case stems from a civil lawsuit, filed under seal in August 2016, by Dr. Paul Bellman, a New York physician who specialized in treating patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
At the peak of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1990s and early 2000s, these communities were very hard hit — for example, one study from 2001 found that in South Africa 56% of truck drivers surveyed were HIV-positive.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
Some events, such as the display of parts of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, plan to move to different venues.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 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 4 May. 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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