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

The change dropped recommendations that all babies should be protected against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026

Other illnesses, such as Ebola and dengue fever, have been known to cause these lingering symptoms. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, mosquito saliva regularly spreads a number of other dangerous diseases including West Nile virus, dengue fever, and various forms of encephalitis. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2026

Rains that fell in distant Caloocan or Valenzuela would fill the San Juan and burst its banks at Talayan, engulfing the squatters’ homes in slurry thick with leptospirosis and dengue-carrying mosquitoes. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

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