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
If a fetus becomes infected, toxoplasmosis can lead to a range of health problems, including premature birth, low birth weight, jaundice or other liver problems, abnormal blood counts, rashes, eye disease, developmental delays, seizures, brain calcification, and in extreme cases, stillbirth.
—
Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
At Camino del Molino (CMOL) in Spain, over 1,300 individuals were laid to rest, 5,000 years ago, because respiratory disease had become widespread, killing a significant number of individuals, who had been laid to rest in this circular gravesite carved into rock.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Dogs that have a limited ability to control their body temperature — such as those with respiratory diseases, obese dogs and puppies — should never be left unattended in a vehicle, regardless of outside air temperature.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme disease is an illness caused by borrelia bacteria, usually contracted by the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disease
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Dr. Megan Yanny, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
At Camino del Molino (CMOL) in Spain, over 1,300 individuals were laid to rest, 5,000 years ago, because respiratory disease had become widespread, killing a significant number of individuals, who had been laid to rest in this circular gravesite carved into rock.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Dogs that have a limited ability to control their body temperature — such as those with respiratory diseases, obese dogs and puppies — should never be left unattended in a vehicle, regardless of outside air temperature.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme disease is an illness caused by borrelia bacteria, usually contracted by the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 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 31 May. 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
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