malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə 
1
a
: a human disease that is caused by sporozoan parasites (genus Plasmodium) in the red blood cells, is transmitted by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever
b
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals caused by blood protozoans
2
Examples of malaria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adaptation in Latin American mosquitoes Anopheles mosquitoes and the malaria-causing Plasmodium also occur outside Africa, where insecticide resistance is less well-researched.
—
Jacob A Tennessen, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
This was the approach that, a little more than a decade ago, surfaced a promising new kind of malaria drug that entered clinical trials first in South Africa and then in Ethiopia.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026
The parents had lived near Venice in a place that was plagued by malaria.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
The same homeowner, according to law enforcement, may be connected to another property in California where detectives in 2022 found a cache of hundreds of samples marked HIV, TB, malaria, COVID, and Ebola, as well as thousands of lab mice.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
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Jacob A Tennessen, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
This was the approach that, a little more than a decade ago, surfaced a promising new kind of malaria drug that entered clinical trials first in South Africa and then in Ethiopia.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026
The parents had lived near Venice in a place that was plagued by malaria.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
The same homeowner, according to law enforcement, may be connected to another property in California where detectives in 2022 found a cache of hundreds of samples marked HIV, TB, malaria, COVID, and Ebola, as well as thousands of lab mice.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malaria
Cite this Entry
“Malaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malaria. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə
: a disease caused by protozoan parasites in the red blood cells, passed from one individual to another by the bite of mosquitoes, and marked by periodic attacks of chills and fever
Medical Definition
malaria
noun
ma·lar·ia
mə-ˈler-ē-ə
1
: an acute or chronic disease caused by the presence of sporozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium in the red blood cells, transmitted from an infected to an uninfected individual by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells and the release of toxic substances by the parasite at the end of each reproductive cycle
malaria remains the greatest single cause of debilitation and death throughout the world—The Journal of the American Medical Association
see falciparum malaria, vivax malaria
The Journal of the American Medical Association2
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals that are more or less similar to malaria of human beings and are caused by blood protozoans
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