1
2
: a harmful development (as in a social institution)
sees the city's crime as a disease
3
obsolete
: trouble
Examples of disease in a Sentence
He suffers from a rare genetic disease.
a disease of the mind
Thousands die of heart disease each year.
They are working to stop the spread of disease in rural areas.
The article cites intolerance as one of the most dangerous of society's diseases.
He sees crime as a disease that too often plagues the poor and disadvantaged.
Recent Examples on the Web
Five to 10 percent of people with ALS have a family member with the disease.
—
Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2025
This ultimately translates into more people that will get infected with these diseases, with the potential of spreading it to all Americans, including White Americans in urban neighborhoods.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
It’s estimated more than 10 million Americans over the age of 50 live with osteoporosis, a bone disease that causes the bones to become weak and brittle.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Evidence suggests that regular consumption could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as the antioxidants present can reduce inflammation.
—Maria Goldbach, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disease
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2025
This ultimately translates into more people that will get infected with these diseases, with the potential of spreading it to all Americans, including White Americans in urban neighborhoods.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
It’s estimated more than 10 million Americans over the age of 50 live with osteoporosis, a bone disease that causes the bones to become weak and brittle.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Evidence suggests that regular consumption could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as the antioxidants present can reduce inflammation.
—Maria Goldbach, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disease
Cite this Entry
“Disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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Medical Definition
disease
noun
dis·ease
diz-ˈēz 
: an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors : sickness, illness
called also morbus
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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