: a severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related virus of the genus Betacoronavirus), 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
see sars-covExamples of SARS in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The research indicated that there were increases in death and in metastatic lung disease among cancer survivors infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—
Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
Plus, that whole waning immunity thing means that your immune system needs to be periodically reminded that the SARS-Cov-2 is a bad thing.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
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Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
Plus, that whole waning immunity thing means that your immune system needs to be periodically reminded that the SARS-Cov-2 is a bad thing.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for SARS
Cite this Entry
“SARS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SARS. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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SARS
noun
: a severe respiratory illness that is transmitted especially by contact with infectious material (as respiratory droplets or body fluids), is caused by a coronavirus (species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus of the genus Betacoronavirus), and is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, a dry cough, hypoxia, and usually pneumonia
called also severe acute respiratory syndrome
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