Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

HIV

American  

abbreviation

  1. human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS virus


HIV British  

abbreviation

  1. human immunodeficiency virus; the cause of AIDS. Two strains have been identified: HIV-1 and HIV-2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

HIV Scientific  
/ āch′ī-vē /
  1. Short for human immunodeficiency virus. Any of various strains of a retrovirus of the genus Lentivirus that cause AIDS by infecting the body's immune system.


HIV Cultural  
  1. An abbreviation for h uman i mmunodeficiency v irus, the virus that causes AIDS.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Sixty-four percent of people living with HIV worldwide reside in sub-Saharan Africa.

From Barron's Jul. 21, 2026

“They are highly profitable assets that should start to contribute to the top-line as the HIV business starts to slow down.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 17, 2026

But the medical examiner’s report disclosed that Chase died of AIDS, which is caused by HIV, as the primary cause of death.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2026

Much larger clinical trials will be needed to confirm the results, determine how long any benefits last, and identify the most effective treatment schedules for both people with HIV and the broader population.

From Science Daily Jul. 14, 2026

I knew you couldn’t get HIV by walking into an area, but maybe he didn’t.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training