: 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
And of course relating to HIV and AIDS at that time, but the larger issue as well.
—
Susan Page, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
One of the first celebrities to help raise awareness for AIDS during the early days of the epidemic, Warwick has continued to work tirelessly as an activist in the fight for a cure.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
This pushes Alpha further into a state of unrest over her fate, and adds a more literal element to Ducournau’s AIDS allegory, while the film flashes back to happier times from the girl’s childhood.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2025
The buzzy Chilean film, which won the top Un Certain Regard award at Cannes, depicts the early days of AIDS through a surreal lens.
—James Factora, Them., 12 Dec. 2025
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Susan Page, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
One of the first celebrities to help raise awareness for AIDS during the early days of the epidemic, Warwick has continued to work tirelessly as an activist in the fight for a cure.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
This pushes Alpha further into a state of unrest over her fate, and adds a more literal element to Ducournau’s AIDS allegory, while the film flashes back to happier times from the girl’s childhood.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2025
The buzzy Chilean film, which won the top Un Certain Regard award at Cannes, depicts the early days of AIDS through a surreal lens.
—James Factora, Them., 12 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 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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