pestilence
Americannoun
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a deadly or virulent epidemic disease.
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something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.
noun
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any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease, such as the plague
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such a disease
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an evil influence or idea
Other Word Forms
- antipestilence adjective
Etymology
Origin of pestilence
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pestilentia, from pestilent-, stem of pestilēns “unhealthy, noxious” ( pestilent ) + -ia -y 3 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We can expect economic upheaval, famine and pestilence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
Every time she opens her mouth I swear a swarm of horseflies and pestilence are released to consume the countryside.
From Salon • Nov. 28, 2025
In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2024
When that happened, the gods could bring death and devastation through floods and pestilence.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
“Those whom fire has spared are drowned by water; the man rescued from the water is saved only by air tainted with pestilence; and the survivor of war is ruined by wasting sickness.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
