SARS

American  

[sahrz] / sɑrz /

noun

Pathology.

1. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: an acute respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, characterized by fever, coughing, breathing difficulty, and usually pneumonia.

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SARS ¹ British  

/ sɑːz /

acronym

1. severe acute respiratory syndrome; a severe viral infection of the lungs characterized by high fever, a dry cough, and breathing difficulties. It is contagious, having an airborne mode of transmission

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SARS ² British  

abbreviation

1. South African Revenue Service

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Etymology

Origin of SARS

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

The trial showed that the vaccine stimulated immune responses not only against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS, but also against related bat viruses that have not yet infected humans.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

She covered the beverage industry, then SARS, flu, Ebola and other epidemics and chronic diseases as a public health reporter in the Atlanta bureau.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

It could have played out differently, as shown by the outbreak of SARS, a genetic relative of COVID-19, nearly 20 years ago.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2024

Then, in April 2003, researchers reported that the deadly, atypical pneumonia spreading through China, soon to be called SARS, was caused by a coronavirus.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 11, 2024

Bats have been linked to a “greatest hits” list of infectious diseases—not just COVID-19, but SARS, Marburg, and even ebola.

From Slate • May 22, 2023