SARS

noun

ˈsärz 

: a severe respiratory illness that is caused by the SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus, is transmitted especially by contact with infectious material (such as respiratory droplets or body fluids), and is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, a dry cough, hypoxia, and usually pneumonia

called also severe acute respiratory syndrome

Examples of SARS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team detected 11 different dormant viruses that reactivated within the first 40 days after hospital admission for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the study, published in the journal Nature. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Today, the compounds remain the main ingredients in hundreds of products on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s list of disinfectants approved to combat SARS-CoV-2. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

In the 2002-2004 outbreak of SARS (a virus related to Covid-19), 66% of deaths occurred in China or Hong Kong, but deaths occurred in a total of 29 countries. — David J. Hunter, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026

These moves have once again foregrounded Paul's unproven claims that the SARS-Cov-2 virus came from a lab leak and that Fauci covered it up — a charge the scientist has vociferously denied. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

severe acute respiratory syndrome

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing SARS

• SARS-CoV-2

Rhymes for SARS

• ares
• bars
• cars
• chars
• czars
• gars
• jars
• lars
• mars
• pars
• scars
• spars

Kids Definition

SARS

noun

ˈsärz 

: a severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus, is transmitted especially by contact with infectious material (as respiratory droplets or body fluids), and is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, a dry cough, shortness of breath, and usually pneumonia

Etymology

severe acute respiratory syndrome

Medical Definition

SARS

noun

ˈsärz 

: a severe respiratory illness that is transmitted especially by contact with infectious material (such as respiratory droplets or body fluids), is caused by the SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus, and is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, a dry cough, hypoxia, and usually pneumonia

called also severe acute respiratory syndrome