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

archaic : air infected with a noxious substance capable of causing disease

especially : miasma

malarial

mə-ˈler-ē-əl 

adjective

malarious

mə-ˈler-ē-əs 

adjective

Examples of malaria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, lymphomas that have the EBV proteins are more common in areas of the world where malaria is prevalent.10 People who are immunocompromised are particularly prone to developing cancers related to EBV. —Anju Goel, Verywell Health, 25 Mar. 2024

In this century, Bush launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, which has saved over 25 million lives, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, and the President’s Malaria Initiative, which has prevented more than 1.5 billion cases of malaria. —Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024

It’s also known that malaria was prevalent in certain regions of the Roman Empire and DNA evidence shows that the malaria was present across Italy in ancient times. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024

Rising temperatures, extreme weather threaten to propel malaria spread More than two-thirds of South Africa’s 20,400 plant species are found nowhere else in the world, said Karen Esler, a distinguished professor of conservation at Stellenbosch University. —Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024

Overall, malaria has killed more than 600,000 people in each of the past few years, up from 576,000 in 2019. —Andrew Joseph, STAT, 22 Jan. 2024

The gene gives them a selective advantage in places like Africa, where malaria is rampant. —Gina Kolata, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023

Researchers suggest that farming could have brought the onslaught of malaria because of deforestation. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

The finding of malaria resistance is consistent with texts and archeological evidence that shows when malaria was regularly found in Eastern Arabia. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from mala aria bad air

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing malaria

• falciparum malaria
• anti-malaria
• vivax malaria

Kids 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

malarial

-ē-əl 

adjective

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

—Journal of the American Medical Association

see falciparum malaria, vivax malaria

2

: 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