1
2
: a harmful development (as in a social institution)
sees the city's crime as a disease
3
obsolete
: trouble
Examples of disease in a Sentence
He suffers from a rare genetic disease.
a disease of the mind
Thousands die of heart disease each year.
They are working to stop the spread of disease in rural areas.
The article cites intolerance as one of the most dangerous of society's diseases.
He sees crime as a disease that too often plagues the poor and disadvantaged.
Recent Examples on the Web
The finding has the potential to provide a longer runway to make the lifestyle changes that can help reduce risk, and could be used to better identify subjects who could benefit from participating in clinical trials seeking to prevent or treat neurodegenerative disease.
—
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Hall of Fame high school football coach Bob Johnson, who built powerhouse programs at El Toro and Mission Viejo and became known for mentoring for his sons and other top quarterbacks, died Wednesday after a long fight with Alzheimer’s disease, his son Bret confirmed.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 Mar. 2026
Key Takeaways The symptoms of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)—a disease of the heart muscle—are often subtle and can mimic those of other heart conditions, especially in the early stages.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
Other signs discussed non-native plant species and the negative effects of feral horses, information about disease, enslavement, war, and colonization, and how government regulations protect delicate ecosystems.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disease
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Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Hall of Fame high school football coach Bob Johnson, who built powerhouse programs at El Toro and Mission Viejo and became known for mentoring for his sons and other top quarterbacks, died Wednesday after a long fight with Alzheimer’s disease, his son Bret confirmed.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 Mar. 2026
Key Takeaways The symptoms of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)—a disease of the heart muscle—are often subtle and can mimic those of other heart conditions, especially in the early stages.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
Other signs discussed non-native plant species and the negative effects of feral horses, information about disease, enslavement, war, and colonization, and how government regulations protect delicate ecosystems.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disease
Cite this Entry
“Disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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Medical Definition
disease
noun
dis·ease
diz-ˈēz 
: an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors : sickness, illness
called also morbus
compare health sense 1Love words? Need even more definitions?
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