: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some (such as Kaposi's sarcoma) that become life-threatening and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (such as semen) during sexual intercourse
Examples of AIDS in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pharmaceutical companies have long justified high drug prices in America as a means to carry out high-level research to promote innovation in drug discovery that have led to cures and breakthroughs for many diseases, such as anti-retroviral therapy for HIV and AIDS.
—
Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The company thought the largest market would be as a treatment for AIDS patients experiencing dangerous weight loss.
—David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
The organization has helped to save 82 million lives through its efforts to fight against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis across the world, as well as increasing access to vaccines in low-income nations.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 May 2025
The University of Washington doctoral student had spent the past three years developing new gene-editing techniques that could spur immunity to the virus that causes AIDS.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for AIDS
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The company thought the largest market would be as a treatment for AIDS patients experiencing dangerous weight loss.
—David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
The organization has helped to save 82 million lives through its efforts to fight against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis across the world, as well as increasing access to vaccines in low-income nations.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 May 2025
The University of Washington doctoral student had spent the past three years developing new gene-editing techniques that could spur immunity to the virus that causes AIDS.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for AIDS
Cite this Entry
“AIDS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/AIDS. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
AIDS
noun
: a serious disease of the human immune system marked by destruction of a large proportion of the helper T cells in the body due to infection by the HIV virus commonly transmitted especially in blood and semen
Medical Definition
AIDS
noun
: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by a reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some that become life threatening (as Kaposi's sarcoma) and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (as semen) during sexual intercourse
called also acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share