dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē 

-ˌgā

: an acute infectious disease caused by a flavivirus (serotypes of Orthoflavivirus denguei), transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, and typically characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash but may progress into a more serious illness marked by hemorrhagic symptoms

called also breakbone fever, dengue fever

Examples of dengue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than a broad recommendation for all children, vaccines against meningitis, hepatitis A and B, dengue, and RSV will now be recommended only for high-risk groups. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026

Previously, all but dengue, RSV, mpox, Covid, and PPSV23 (pneumococcal) vaccines were covered by the program, and Covid vaccines are covered by the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program. —Isabella Cueto, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026

Vaccines recommended for high-risk groups are shots for RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

Early deployments in cities such as Niterói have now reduced dengue fever by nearly 90%. —New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē  -ˌgā 

: an acute infectious disease that is caused by a flavivirus (serotypes of Orthoflavivirus denguei) transmitted by mosquitos of the genus Aedes and that is typically characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash but may progress to the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever

called also breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue fever