human immunodeficiency virus

noun

Etymology: The name was first proposed by a subcommittee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses on 1 May 1986 in the Nature journal (as human immunodeficiency virus, along with its initialism HIV), in an effort to establish an internationally acceptable name to replace “the multiplicity of names currently in use”. However, the term is first attested on 11 April 1986 in the Capital Gay newspaper (as human immune deficiency virus).

1. Either of the two species of retroviruses that infect cells in the human immune system and can potentially lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).