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.

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

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 pandemic

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.

Other Word Forms

• epidemically adverb
• epidemicity noun
• interepidemic adjective
• preepidemic noun

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

China is the primary origin of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, the highly potent opioid underpinning a deadly drug epidemic in the United States.

Read more on Barron's

The country's Ebola epidemic later forced the reserve to close down for a year.

Read more on Barron's

According to the UN's health body, this convention "provides a global response to a global problem – namely, the tobacco epidemic".

Read more on BBC

However, School Standards Minister Georgia Gould said the UK was still facing an "absence epidemic".

Read more on BBC

"There is a national epidemic of damp and mould cases which has prevailed for many years," says Michael Parrett, a buildings pathology specialist.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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