leukemia

noun leu·ke·mia \ lü-ˈkē-mē-ə \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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

—

leukemic

play \lü-ˈkē-mik\ adjective or noun

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Recent Examples of leukemia from the Web

Mary Ann Moroney, after giving up her baby boy for adoption, then marrying a man named John Lane, went on to have a daughter named Patricia Lane -- Palmer's biological half sister -- but Patricia died of leukemia in 1987 at the age of 40.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer long wondered if he's related to JFK; at 72, he learned the truth," 12 May 2018
High costs and copayments for Novartis’ Gleevec, which treats a form of leukemia, are associated with patients delaying or skipping doses, said researcher Stacie Dusetzina of Vanderbilt University.

— jay hancock, Washington Post, "Why The Drugmaker That Paid Trump’s Lawyer $1.2 Million Is So Worried," 11 May 2018
Kirk was diagnosed with leukemia last month and has about three years of treatment ahead of him.

— alysha tsuji, For The Win, "Victor Oladipo wrote encouraging letter to young fan battling cancer," 9 May 2018
A year after his friend died of leukemia, Stone began to create it.

— mará rose williams, kansascity, "How did this old school bus win a Hot Wheels competition? It's the story behind it | The Kansas City Star," 5 May 2018
His daughter, Sofia, had been diagnosed with leukemia.

— carol motsinger, Cincinnati.com, "There's a Cincinnati story hidden inside 'Hamilton' the musical," 4 May 2018
Mackey and his wife, Tami, lost a son and a daughter to different forms of leukemia within 30 months of each other starting in June 2011.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "As Todd Rokita runs for Senate, 13 candidates line up for his U.S. House seat," 22 Apr. 2018
Bush will be laid to rest at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, buried next to her daughter Robin, who died as a child from leukemia.

— veronica stracqualursi, CNN, "Barbara Bush to be laid to rest in private funeral Saturday," 21 Apr. 2018
The couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Robin, who died in 1953 of leukemia, is also buried at the site.

— kaitlyn schallhorn, Fox News, "Barbara Bush's funeral will be attended by Melania Trump, Clintons, others," 20 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.

Origin and Etymology of leukemia

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1850

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

LEUKEMIA Defined for English Language Learners

leukemia

noun

Definition of leukemia for English Language Learners

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

LEUKEMIA Defined for Kids

leukemia

noun leu·ke·mia \ lü-ˈkē-mē-ə \

Definition of leukemia for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

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

Learn More about leukemia

See words that rhyme with leukemia Spanish Central: Translation of leukemia Nglish: Translation of leukemia for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of leukemia for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leukemia

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leukemia

Definition of leukemia

leukemic

Recent Examples of leukemia from the Web

Origin and Etymology of leukemia

LEUKEMIA Defined for English Language Learners

leukemia

Definition of leukemia for English Language Learners

LEUKEMIA Defined for Kids

leukemia

Definition of leukemia for Students

Medical Dictionary

leukemia

medical Definition of leukemia

Learn More about leukemia

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leukemia

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leukemic

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Definition of leukemia for English Language Learners

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leukemia

Definition of leukemia for Students

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leukemia

medical Definition of leukemia

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