: a serious viral respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (Betacoronavirus cameli) related to the causative virus of SARS, that is marked by fever, cough, and shortness of breath and that may often progress to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and organ failure
Note: The first cases of MERS appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and most cases originate from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula.
see mers-covExamples of MERS in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The marine creature — the largest turtle species in the world — was spotted near Langara Island, British Columbia, according to the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS), a Canadian conservation non-profit.
—
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025
Shortly thereafter, former President Barack Obama in 2014 placed a moratorium on gain-of-function research using viruses with pandemic potential, including influenza, SARS, and MERS.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 5 May 2025
Many of the disease scares of recent decades—SARS, MERS, Ebola, Zika—in large part spared the U.S.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2025
And this research prepared us for SARS-CoV, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2.
—Dave Wessner, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola.
—Andrea Wurzburger, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Moss’ proposal did not technically violate federal gain-of-function regulations, because the ban only pertained to SARS, MERS, and influenza viruses at the time.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 11 June 2024
Groups of women, outraged by the misogyny, started gathering on a MERS forum to talk about how they were done with men.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025
Shortly thereafter, former President Barack Obama in 2014 placed a moratorium on gain-of-function research using viruses with pandemic potential, including influenza, SARS, and MERS.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 5 May 2025
Many of the disease scares of recent decades—SARS, MERS, Ebola, Zika—in large part spared the U.S.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2025
And this research prepared us for SARS-CoV, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2.
—Dave Wessner, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola.
—Andrea Wurzburger, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Moss’ proposal did not technically violate federal gain-of-function regulations, because the ban only pertained to SARS, MERS, and influenza viruses at the time.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 11 June 2024
Groups of women, outraged by the misogyny, started gathering on a MERS forum to talk about how they were done with men.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“MERS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MERS. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
MERS
noun
: a serious viral respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (Betacoronavirus cameli) related to the causative virus of SARS, that is marked by fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and that may often progress to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and organ failure
Note: The first cases of MERS appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and most cases originate from countries in or near the Arabian peninsula.
For some patients, the route of infection is completely unclear. Still, most scientists now believe that camels are the key to controlling MERS.—Martin Enserink, Science
Martin Enserink, Sciencecalled also Middle East respiratory syndrome
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