: 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 year before that, SARS had emerged, ultimately infecting over 8,000 people in nearly 30 countries.
—
Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
So that accounts for the original severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, in 2002, another coronavirus, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, in 2012, then of course COVID-19, which was also known as the SARS-2 coronavirus, then Ebola epidemics and now this hantavirus outbreak.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 May 2026
One key lesson from both SARS and COVID was how much superspreading can play a role.
—Zeynep Tufekci, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
Moreover, unlike transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus requires prolonged close contact with someone actively shedding the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
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Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
So that accounts for the original severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, in 2002, another coronavirus, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, in 2012, then of course COVID-19, which was also known as the SARS-2 coronavirus, then Ebola epidemics and now this hantavirus outbreak.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 May 2026
One key lesson from both SARS and COVID was how much superspreading can play a role.
—Zeynep Tufekci, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
Moreover, unlike transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus requires prolonged close contact with someone actively shedding the virus.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for SARS
Cite this Entry
“SARS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SARS. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
SARS
noun
: 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
: 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
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