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disease

noun
dis·​ease | \ di-ˈzÄ“z How to pronounce disease (audio) \

Definition of disease

1 : a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms : sickness, malady infectious diseases a rare genetic disease heart disease
2 : a harmful development (as in a social institution) sees the city's crime as a disease
3 obsolete : trouble
Other Words from disease Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about disease

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Other Words from disease

diseased \ di-​ˈzÄ“zd How to pronounce diseased (audio) \ adjective

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Now some subset of these products is causing a serious lung disease that even cigarettes, while lethal in the long run, don’t cause in young people. — New York Times, "The Mysterious Vaping Illness That’s ‘Becoming an Epidemic’," 31 Aug. 2019 Now some subset of these products is causing a serious lung disease that even cigarettes, while lethal in the long run, don’t cause in young people. — Matt Richtel, BostonGlobe.com, "The mysterious vaping illness that’s ‘becoming an epidemic’," 31 Aug. 2019 Health officials thus far have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the illnesses, said Dr. Tony Cappello, director for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s disease control and environmental epidemiology division. — Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, "Second vape-related mystery illness confirmed in Colorado," 29 Aug. 2019 Blood that is too acidic or alkaline could be a sign of liver, kidney or lung disease. — Christy Brissette, chicagotribune.com, "There’s no solid evidence alkaline water is better for you," 29 Aug. 2019 Nearly nine out of 10 cases where vaping led to people developing a severe lung disease in Wisconsin involved the use of THC products, such as waxes or oils, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services said Thursday. — Ivan Moreno, Twin Cities, "THC found in Wisconsin vaping cases that led to illnesses," 29 Aug. 2019 Vaping has been in the news this month after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating a spate of serious lung diseases, and one death, apparently linked to vaping. — Jamie Ducharme, Time, "Juul Commits $100 Million to New System to Help Retailers Block Sales to Minors," 29 Aug. 2019 In recent weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that vaping has been linked to a severe lung disease that has landed several people in the hospital and caused at least one death. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "'We know we have our work cut out for us': Gov. Holcomb unveils plan to combat teen vaping," 29 Aug. 2019 Milwaukee's alert comes as federal officials say there are some 200 potential cases of lung disease linked to e-cigarettes reported by 22 states. — Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "City of Milwaukee issues health alert urging people to stop vaping amid outbreak of lung disease cases," 28 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of disease

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for disease

Middle English disese, from Anglo-French desease, desaise, from des- dis- + eise ease

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More Definitions for disease

disease

noun
How to pronounce disease (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of disease

: an illness that affects a person, animal, or plant : a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally
: a problem that a person, group, organization, or society has and cannot stop

See the full definition for disease in the English Language Learners Dictionary

disease

noun
dis·​ease | \ di-ˈzÄ“z How to pronounce disease (audio) \

Kids Definition of disease

: a change in a living body (as of a person or plant) that prevents it from functioning normally : sickness

disease

noun
dis·​ease | \ diz-ˈēz How to pronounce disease (audio) \

Medical Definition of disease

: 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

— compare health sense 1

Other Words from disease

diseased \ -​ˈēzd How to pronounce diseased (audio) \ adjective

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