1
2
: a harmful development (as in a social institution)
sees the city's crime as a disease
3
obsolete
: trouble
Synonyms
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
Trimming back your tree can also help prevent the spread of disease—cut back branches with canker sores on them about five inches below the sore.
—
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Drinking green tea regularly has been linked with lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
Each participant provided a blood sample and underwent standard clinical evaluations for Alzheimer’s disease.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
There don't appear to be changes in how the disease is transmitted from animals to humans.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disease 
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illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Drinking green tea regularly has been linked with lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
Each participant provided a blood sample and underwent standard clinical evaluations for Alzheimer’s disease.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
There don't appear to be changes in how the disease is transmitted from animals to humans.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disease
Dictionary Entries Near disease
Cite this Entry
“Disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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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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