: 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 era-spanning series covers the AIDS epidemic, showing how the LGBTQ+ community was mistreated.
—
Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Also, reach out to your local LGBTQ community center or organizations working with people living with HIV/AIDS to see if there’s a social group or support group for LGBTQ seniors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Mother Teresa visited Denver in 1989 and reopened it as a hospice for AIDS patients.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
The 2018 movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $14 million at the China box office as part of a global take north of $962M, reportedly had three minutes censored for references to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality and AIDS.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for AIDS
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Also, reach out to your local LGBTQ community center or organizations working with people living with HIV/AIDS to see if there’s a social group or support group for LGBTQ seniors.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Mother Teresa visited Denver in 1989 and reopened it as a hospice for AIDS patients.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
The 2018 movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $14 million at the China box office as part of a global take north of $962M, reportedly had three minutes censored for references to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality and AIDS.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 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 3 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share