venereal disease

noun

: a contagious disease (such as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is typically acquired in sexual intercourse compare std

Examples of venereal disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There was a large public relations poster effort throughout the country and on Army bases throughout Europe for preventing venereal disease because penicillin should go to wounded soldiers. Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 So venereal disease became a widespread and debilitating problem for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 The board’s charge was to evaluate individuals for military service, a process that required testing for venereal diseases and mandatory treatment for those affected. Caitjan Gainty, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 Donald Ellis Wildmon was born on Jan. 18, 1938, in Dumas, Miss., the youngest of the five children of Ellis Wildmon, a venereal disease investigator for the state health department, and Bernice T. Wildmon, a schoolteacher. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for venereal disease 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'venereal disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of venereal disease was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near venereal disease

Cite this Entry

“Venereal disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venereal%20disease. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

venereal disease

noun
: a contagious disease (as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is usually acquired through sexual intercourse with someone who already has it

Medical Definition

venereal disease

noun
: a contagious disease (as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is typically acquired in sexual intercourse
abbreviation VD
compare sexually transmitted disease

More from Merriam-Webster on venereal disease

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!