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

By then, the Yanomami were enduring a crisis, with malaria, hunger, and infant malnutrition spreading widely; hundreds of children had died. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

The World Health Organization approved a new and affordable malaria vaccine. —Linda McNamar, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024

Other sessions at this year’s meeting will explore new malaria vaccines poised to save tens of thousands of children each year, the observation of gravitational waves from supermassive black holes in motion, and the development of a new class of drugs that targets obesity and related diseases. —Philip Distefano, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2024

Massa Marittima Closer to the Tyrrhenian coast, Massa Marittima is an ancient hill town that has survived the Black Plague, sieges, malaria, and Nazi invaders. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2024

That includes efforts to develop new vaccines and cheap supplies to curb malaria, polio and maternal deaths. —Francine Lacqua, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2024

In Africa, climate change has led to more hunger, malaria, dengue fever and flooding, Mr. Taalas said. —Jenny Gross, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from mala aria bad air

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing malaria

• anti-malaria
• falciparum 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