dengue

American  

[deng-gey, -gee] / ˈdɛŋ geɪ, -gi /

noun

Pathology.

1. an infectious, eruptive fever of warm climates, usually epidemic, characterized especially by severe pains in the joints and muscles.

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dengue British  

/ ˈdændɪ, ˈdɛŋɡɪ /

noun

1. Also called: breakbone fever.  an acute viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by headache, fever, pains in the joints, and skin rash

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dengue Scientific  

/ dĕng′gē,-gā /

1. An acute, infectious tropical disease caused by any of several viruses of the genus Flavivirus. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, and characterized by high fever, rash, headache, and severe muscle and joint pain.

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Etymology

Origin of dengue

An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30; from Latin American Spanish: literally, “prudery, affectation,” by folk etymology from Swahili -dinga, kadinga “seizure, cramp” or from another Bantu language

Example Sentences

The stakes became clear that year, when California reported 18 locally acquired dengue cases — a sharp rise from the first-ever cases confirmed the year before.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

Malaria is rampant at the camps, and last year, the miner said, he came home to find he had malaria, dengue fever and kidney failure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Twenty-one children are among 33 people who have died in Cuba of the mosquito-borne chikungunya and dengue viruses since July, authorities said Monday.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

Chikungunya fever spreads through bites from Aedes mosquitoes, the same insects that transmit dengue and Zika viruses.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2025

The weakness that his dengue fever had left was finally gone.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler