epidemic

[ ep-i-dem-ik ]

adjective

1. Also epidemical. (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent. Compare pandemic ( def 1 ).
2. extremely prevalent; widespread.

noun

1. a temporary prevalence of a disease.
2. a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something:

   an epidemic of riots.

epidemic

/ ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. (esp of a disease) attacking or affecting many persons simultaneously in a community or area

noun

1. a widespread occurrence of a disease

   an influenza epidemic

2. a rapid development, spread, or growth of something, esp something unpleasant

   an epidemic of strikes

epidemic

/ ĕp′ĭ-dĕm′ĭk /

1. An outbreak of a disease or illness that spreads rapidly among individuals in an area or population at the same time.
2. See also endemic

epidemic

1. A contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely among the population in an area. Immunization and quarantine are two of the methods used to control an epidemic.

Derived Forms

• ˌepiˈdemically, adverb

Other Word Forms

• ep·i·dem·i·cal·ly adverb
• ep·i·de·mic·i·ty [ep-i-d, uh, -, mis, -i-tee], noun
• in·ter·ep·i·dem·ic adjective
• pre·ep·i·dem·ic noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epidemic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; obsolete epidem(y) (from Late Latin epidēmia, from Greek epidēmía “staying in one place, among the people,” equivalent to epi- epi- + dêm(os) “people of a district” + -ia -y ³ ) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of epidemic¹

C17: from French épidémique, via Late Latin from Greek epidēmia literally: among the people, from epi- + dēmos people

Example Sentences

Starting in the late 1980s in western Virginia, Kingsolver’s reimagining of “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens combines a rebuke of the modern foster care system with the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic.

From Los Angeles Times

Thankfully, very few of us know what it’s like to grow up with half our siblings dying from relatively minor infections or experiencing life-long disability from surviving an epidemic.

From Salon

"By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures," Kennedy said.

From BBC

For years, there have been endless rounds of media hand-wringing about the loneliness epidemic among men, which is unfairly implied to be the fault of women.

From Salon

As a poverty epidemic looms, we cannot afford failure.

From Salon

Related Words

• contagion
• outbreak
• pest
• plague
• rash
• scourge
• spread
• wave