leukemia

noun

leu·ke·mia | \ lü-ˈkē-mē-ə

Definition of leukemia

: an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood

Other Words from leukemia Example Sentences Learn More about leukemia

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of leukemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trial may help some of his patients, such as 6-year-old Avalynn Wallace, who contracted an aggressive form of leukemia two years ago. — Lucette Lagnado, WSJ, "For Children With Cancer, Hope for New Treatments," 15 Jan. 2019 Another son, Jason, died of leukemia in 1981 at age 11. — Larry Stone, The Seattle Times, "Mel Stottlemyre Sr., Yakima Valley native and former Yankees star, dies at 77," 14 Jan. 2019 Dennison was treated for leukemia as a child at Children’s Hospital for four years. — Chuck Dauphin, Billboard, "Dolly Parton Visits Children's Hospital, Opens Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden: Watch," 19 June 2018 Bush had learned that the boy, the son of an agent on his Secret Service detail, had been diagnosed with leukemia. — Lindsey Bever, The Seattle Times, "The touching gesture by George H.W. Bush that his Secret Service ‘family’ will never forget," 5 Dec. 2018 Editor’s Note: Melissa’s son Colin was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2014. — Melissa Delaney-doliner, Philly.com, "Mom writes touching tribute to CHOP nurses who cared for son with cancer," 10 May 2018 John O’Neill died of leukemia in Florida when his only son was 6 and his daughter Tracey was a year younger. — Washington Post, "Son treks Papua New Guinea in footsteps of US war hero dad," 3 Apr. 2018 McCain spoke at the academy as Larson, who died of leukemia at age 77, prepared to leave in 1998. — Laurie Kellman, Fox News, "McCain to be buried near best friend at US Naval Academy," 27 Aug. 2018 Scott Springer with the parents of Maya Collins, who passed from complications related to leukemia in Oct. 2017. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Maya's fiesty, strong spirit pays kindness forward at Mason, Kings lacrosse game," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leukemia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about leukemia

Dictionary Entries near leukemia

Statistics for leukemia

Last Updated

8 Feb 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for leukemia

The first known use of leukemia was in 1850

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for leukemia

leukemia

noun

English Language Learners Definition of leukemia

medical : a very serious disease in which the body forms too many white blood cells

See the full definition for leukemia in the English Language Learners Dictionary

leukemia

noun

leu·ke·mia | \ lü-ˈkē-mē-ə

Kids Definition of leukemia

: a serious disease in which too many white blood cells are formed

leukemia

noun

leu·ke·mia | \ lü-ˈkē-mē-ə

variants: also leucemia \ lü-ˈkē- also lü-ˈsē- \ or chiefly British leukaemia also leucaemia

Medical Definition of leukemia

: an acute or chronic disease of unknown cause in humans and other warm-blooded animals that involves the blood-forming organs, is characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues of the body with or without a corresponding increase of those in the circulating blood, and is classified according to the type of white blood cell most prominently involved — see acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, feline leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myelogenous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia