dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē 

-ˌgā

: an acute infectious disease caused by a flavivirus (species Dengue virus of the genus Flavivirus), transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, and characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash

called also breakbone fever, dengue fever

Examples of dengue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2023, nearly 200 people contracted dengue fever, and there were more than 1,500 cases of Zika in the state from 2016 to 2018, Carney said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025

This leads to the spread of illnesses like Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and dengue fever into regions previously unaffected. —Bill Frist, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, rising temperatures expand the range of disease vectors, bringing malaria and dengue to populations with no access to preventive care. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

At the same time, outbreaks of diseases such as measles and dengue are increasing, adding more urgency and responsibility to the work. —Caitlin Rivers, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē  -ˌgā 

: an acute infectious disease that is characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash and that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (species Dengue virus) transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes

called also breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue fever