diabetes

noun

di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbē-tēz How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbē-təs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine
especially : diabetes mellitus

Examples of diabetes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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People ages 60 and older and those with certain medical conditions — like cancer, diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease — are at greater risk for serious illness. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2025 In many countries, including the U.S. and U.K., access to treatment is granted only when another related condition, like hypertension or type 2 diabetes, is already present, even though there is ample evidence that obesity alone can cause serious harm. Francesco Rubino, Time, 9 July 2025 The doll was developed with Breakthrough T1D, the leading global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. Piper Heath follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025 Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-long autoimmune condition that prevents the pancreas from making insulin to regulate blood sugar. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for diabetes

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diabet, diabete, borrowed from Late Latin diabētēs, borrowed from Greek diabḗtēs, from diabē-, variant stem of diabaínein "to stride, walk or stand with legs apart, step across, cross over" (from dia- dia- + baínein "to step, walk") + -tēs, suffix of agency — more at come entry 1

Note: The literal sense of Greek diabḗtēs in relation to the base verb diabaínein is not entirely clear. The Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia (active ca. 130-40 A.D.), author of a detailed description of diabetes mellitus (in Book 2 of De causis et signis diuturnorum morborum), takes the name of the disorder as a given, and explains it as a particular application of the word diabḗtēs, the meaning of which he seems to regard as self-evident. It has been assumed that he alludes to diabḗtēs in the sense "siphon," referring to frequent urination, as if liquid was being drawn out of the sufferer by a siphon. In the following clause, however, he maintains that moisture (tò hygrón) does not stay in the body but leaves it "as if by a diabáthrē ("hókōs diabáthrēi")." The word diabáthra (Ionic diabáthrē)—also a derivative of diabaínein—has various attested meanings: "ladder," "gangway," "bridge." The suggestion has been made that "bridge" or "channel" is the most appropriate sense, though the mixing of metaphors is perhaps an indication that the text is corrupt, or that some no longer recoverable sense of the word is in play. (See discussion in Chalmers L. Gemmill, "The Greek concept of diabetes," Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, vol. 48, no. 8 [September, 1972], pp. 1033-36.)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diabetes was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Diabetes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabetes. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

diabetes

noun
di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbēt-əs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
: any of various bodily conditions in which abnormally large amounts of urine are produced
especially : diabetes mellitus

Medical Definition

diabetes

noun
di·​a·​be·​tes ˌdī-ə-ˈbēt-ēz How to pronounce diabetes (audio) -ˈbēt-əs How to pronounce diabetes (audio)
plural diabetes
: any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine
especially : diabetes mellitus

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