HIV
noun
Note: HIV retroviruses are transmitted through contact with blood, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids, or breast milk and typically cause flu-like symptoms during the acute phase of infection, but often cause few or no symptoms during the chronic phase of infection when treated with antiretroviral drugs.
Robert R. Redfield et al.Richard Marlink et al.called also AIDS virus, human immunodeficiency virus
see also hiv-1, hiv-2Paul E. SaxExamples of HIV in a Sentence
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 July 2026
Philip Lewis, a relationship therapist specializing in gay men's mental health, says finding a community can be one of the most beneficial things when faced with a diagnosis of HIV or any chronic health condition.
—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Both would become heavily involved in advocacy for HIV/AIDS research.
—
Rance Collins,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 July 2026
Jeff Graham, of the LGBTQ+ rights organization Georgia Equality, said testing and prevention efforts at the community level have been crucial to the progress in reducing new HIV cases.
—
Tamar Hallerman,
AJC.com,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for HIV
Cite this Entry
“HIV.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HIV. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
HIV
nounMedical Definition
HIV
nounNote: HIV retroviruses are transmitted through contact with blood, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids, or breast milk and typically cause flu-like symptoms during the acute phase of infection, but often cause few or no symptoms during the chronic phase of infection when treated with antiretroviral drugs.
called also AIDS virus, human immunodeficiency virus
see also hiv-1, hiv-2
