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.

Microgravity manufacturing has been studied for decades, and several companies, such as Varda Space Industries, which successfully made an HIV medicine in orbit, plan to commercialize it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The updated guidance addresses treatment strategies for a wide range of groups, including pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, adults age 75 and older, and people with conditions such as diabetes, advanced kidney disease, HIV, or cancer.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

In Swahili, this implies she needs to take anti-retroviral medication, which is used to treat HIV.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Gilead, for one, doesn’t have to worry about its competitive positioning in HIV treatment and prevention.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

They defeated HIV, purged it from their bodies, and went on to live healthy lives.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.