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

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

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

Knipe has applied the insights gained by studying HSV to explore the possibilities of using genetic material from HSV to deliver vaccines for HIV, SARS, West Nile, and anthrax.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2023

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

In all, more than 8,000 people from 29 countries and territories were infected with SARS, resulting in at least 774 deaths.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2023