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
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease that can cause serious health complications, including death, especially in children under 5.
—
Jaden Amos, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects 1% of the population.1 People with celiac used to die from their condition before the gluten-free diet diet was discovered.2
Gluten intolerance is more common, affecting up to 13% of the population.
—Sarah Bence, Health, 28 Feb. 2025
Fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc., can carry bugs or disease that can impact our agriculture.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disease
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Jaden Amos, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects 1% of the population.1 People with celiac used to die from their condition before the gluten-free diet diet was discovered.2
Gluten intolerance is more common, affecting up to 13% of the population.
—Sarah Bence, Health, 28 Feb. 2025
Fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc., can carry bugs or disease that can impact our agriculture.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 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 3 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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