contagion

[ kuhn-tey-juhn ]

noun

1. the communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.
2. a disease so communicated.
3. the medium by which a contagious disease is transmitted.
4. harmful or undesirable contact or influence.
5. the ready transmission or spread as of an idea or emotion from person to person:

   a contagion of fear.

contagion

/ kənˈteɪdʒən /

noun

1. the transmission of disease from one person to another by direct or indirect contact
2. a contagious disease
3. another name for contagium
4. a corrupting or harmful influence that tends to spread; pollutant
5. the spreading of an emotional or mental state among a number of people

   the contagion of mirth

contagion

/ kən-tā′jən /

1. The transmission of an infectious disease resulting from direct or indirect contact between individuals or animals.
2. A disease that is transmitted in this way.
3. The agent that causes a contagious disease, such as a bacterium or a virus.

Other Words From

• con·tagioned adjective
• noncon·tagion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagion¹

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin contāgiōn- (stem of contāgiō ) contact, infection, equivalent to con- con- + tāg- (variant stem of tangere to touch) + -iōn- -ion; contact

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagion¹

C14: from Latin contāgiō a touching, infection, from contingere; see contact

Example Sentences

The contagion and the moral disengagement it causes provokes cruelty and obedience.

From Salon

Social contagion spread in a more personal way.

From BBC

However, a Washington Post article did point to selfies as a possible source of contagion, because putting heads together and leaning in to take a snapshot seems to give the bugs that opportunity.

From Salon

“McMartin” became a byword for social contagion, hysteria and the epic failure of trusted institutions: law enforcement, courts, the child-therapy establishment and the media.

From Los Angeles Times

Memes are a contagion for ideas with a potent ability to construct and disseminate political propaganda.

From Salon

Related Words

• contamination
• illness
• pollution
• virus