malaria

noun

ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
1
a
: a human disease that is caused by sporozoan parasites (genus Plasmodium) in the red blood cells, is transmitted by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever
b
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals caused by blood protozoans
2
archaic : air infected with a noxious substance capable of causing disease
especially : miasma
malarial
mə-ˈler-ē-əl How to pronounce malaria (audio)
adjective
malarious
mə-ˈler-ē-əs How to pronounce malaria (audio)
adjective

Examples of malaria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The molecule also exists on malaria parasites; the researchers had been trying to identify allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies to neutralize infection, but none could bind well to the parasite. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 2026 Two workers at Germany's Frankfurt airport who caught malaria from a mosquito thought to have arrived on a plane have died, the city's health authority said this week. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Marataba operates in Marakele National Park, offering malaria-free Big-5 safaris, and rhino conservation experiences. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 In mid-July, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s national public health institute, noted that there had been an outbreak of malaria cases among employees at the airport, with multiple individuals falling ill between July 4 and July 6. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malaria

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from mala aria bad air

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of malaria was in 1740

Phrases Containing malaria

Rhymes for malaria

See All Rhymes for malaria

Browse Nearby Words

malari-
malaria
malariae
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Malaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malaria. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

malaria

noun
ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
: a disease caused by protozoan parasites in the red blood cells, passed from one individual to another by the bite of mosquitoes, and marked by periodic attacks of chills and fever
malarial
-ē-əl How to pronounce malaria (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

malaria

noun
ma·​lar·​ia mə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce malaria (audio)
1
: an acute or chronic disease caused by the presence of sporozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium in the red blood cells, transmitted from an infected to an uninfected individual by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever that coincide with mass destruction of blood cells and the release of toxic substances by the parasite at the end of each reproductive cycle
malaria remains the greatest single cause of debilitation and death throughout the world—The Journal of the American Medical Association
see falciparum malaria, vivax malaria
2
: any of various diseases of birds and mammals that are more or less similar to malaria of human beings and are caused by blood protozoans

More from Merriam-Webster on malaria

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about malaria

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