pestilence

[ pes-tl-uhns ]

noun

1. a deadly or virulent epidemic disease.
2. bubonic plague.
3. something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.

pestilence

/ ˈpɛstɪləns /

noun

1. 1. any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease, such as the plague
   2. such a disease
2. an evil influence or idea

Other Words From

• anti·pesti·lence adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pestilence¹

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

In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death.

From Los Angeles Times

I’d love to see Harris and the Democrats start saying they have to “Drain the Swamp!” of this slimy pestilence.

From Salon

From the Middle Ages on, Paris’ early underground waste channels were a wellspring of public fascination — and a source of pestilence, criminality and existential dread.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump, who channels Mussolini when he isn’t plagiarizing Hitler, is, in fact, a pestilence preying on America and its freedoms.

From Los Angeles Times

The study is the first archaeological exploration showing how racism influenced a person's risk of death during what was known as the Great Pestilence or Great Mortality.

From BBC