pandemic

[ pan-dem-ik ]

adjective

1. (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area. Compare epidemic ( def 1 ).
2. general; universal:

   pandemic fear of atomic war.

noun

1. a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world.

pandemic

/ pænˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. (of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic

noun

1. a pandemic disease

pandemic

/ păn-dĕm′ĭk /

1. An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.

pandemic

1. A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.

Other Words From

• pan·de·mi·a [pan-, dee, -mee-, uh], noun
• pan·de·mic·i·ty [pan-d, uh, -, mis, -i-tee], noun
• in·ter·pan·dem·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemic¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from Late Latin pandēm(us), from Greek pándēmos “common, public” ( pan- “all” + dêm(os) “the people” + -os adjective suffix) + -ic; pan-

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemic¹

C17: from Late Latin pandēmus, from Greek pandēmos general, from pan- + demos the people

Example Sentences

And also – crucially – in the years before the virus started spreading, when planning for a pandemic was meant to be taking place.

From BBC

Data released on 21 November found the number of school suspensions in primary schools had almost doubled since before the pandemic.

From BBC

But former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings, who was working in No 10 during the Covid pandemic, criticised the appointment, writing on X: "The Westminster system is totally determined to resist any change."

From BBC

Before the pandemic, films were typically in theaters for about 80 days before they became available for home viewing.

From Los Angeles Times

The San Mateo-Foster City district in the Bay Area initiated a strict cellphone ban in 2021, when students returned to campus after pandemic school closures, a time when they were more digitally reliant than ever.

From Los Angeles Times