: 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
Romería follows 18-year-old Marina, the daughter of drug addicts who died young of AIDS, who travels to the Atlantic coast of Spain to meet her paternal grandparents for the first time.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Harry also established the charity Sentebale to help children affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, Africa, which has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Hope ultimately came in the form of life-saving treatment options, starting with the approval of azidothymidine (AZT) for treating HIV/AIDS in 1987.
—Pearl Pugh, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Elizabeth Taylor Night of Compassion event is the annual gala for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 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.
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Harry also established the charity Sentebale to help children affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, Africa, which has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Hope ultimately came in the form of life-saving treatment options, starting with the approval of azidothymidine (AZT) for treating HIV/AIDS in 1987.
—Pearl Pugh, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Elizabeth Taylor Night of Compassion event is the annual gala for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 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