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Definition of malaria

malaria

/məˈlɛr.i.ə/
ma · lar · i · a
Adjective:malarial
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malaria Lexical Profile

malaria Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An intermittent and remittent infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted to humans by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes and characterized by recurrent bouts of chills, high fever, and sweating.

Example

"Travelers visiting tropical regions are often advised to take preventative medication to protect themselves against malaria."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for malaria

• Rhymes for malaria

• Nearby Words

malanda
malanda falls
malanga
malaria
malarial
malarkey
malawi

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-18th century from Italian 'mal'aria', a contraction of 'mala aria', meaning 'bad air'. The term arose from the historical belief that the disease was caused by inhaling foul vapors or miasma rising from swamps and marshes, before the role of mosquitoes was discovered.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Malaria. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/malaria
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