contagious

[ kuhn-tey-juhs ]

adjective

1. capable of being transmitted by bodily contact with an infected person or object:

   contagious diseases.

2. carrying or spreading a contagious disease.
3. tending to spread from person to person:

   contagious laughter.

contagious

/ kənˈteɪdʒəs /

adjective

1. (of a disease) capable of being passed on by direct contact with a diseased individual or by handling clothing, etc, contaminated with the causative agent Compare infectious
2. (of an organism) harbouring or spreading the causative agent of a transmissible disease
3. causing or likely to cause the same reaction or emotion in several people; catching; infectious

   her laughter was contagious

contagious

/ kən-tā′jəs /

1. Capable of being transmitted by direct or indirect contact, as an infectious disease.
2. Bearing contagion, as a person or animal with an infectious disease that is contagious.

Derived Forms

• conˈtagiously, adverb
• conˈtagiousness, noun

Other Words From

• con·tagious·ly adverb
• con·tagious·ness con·ta·gi·os·i·ty [k, uh, n-tey-jee-, os, -i-tee], noun
• anti·con·tagious adjective
• anti·con·tagious·ly adverb
• anti·con·tagious·ness noun
• noncon·tagious adjective
• noncon·tagious·ly adverb
• noncon·tagious·ness noun
• uncon·tagious adjective
• uncon·tagious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagious¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin contāgiōsus, from contāgi(ō) contagion + -ōsus -ous

Usage

A contagious disease is one that can be transmitted from one living being to another through direct or indirect contact. Thus the flu, which can be transmitted by coughing, and cholera, which is often acquired by drinking contaminated water, are contagious diseases. Although infectious is also used to refer to such diseases, it has a slightly different meaning in that it refers to diseases caused by infectious agents —agents such as viruses and bacteria that are not normally present in the body and can cause an infection. While the notion of contagiousness goes back to ancient times, the idea of infectious diseases is more modern, coming from the germ theory of disease, which was not proposed until the later nineteenth century. Contagious and infectious are also used to refer to people who have communicable diseases at a stage at which transmission to others is likely.

Synonym Study

Contagious, infectious are usually distinguished in technical medical use. Contagious, literally “communicable by contact,” describes a very easily transmitted disease as influenza or the common cold. Infectious refers to a disease involving a microorganism that can be transmitted from one person to another only by a specific kind of contact; venereal diseases are usually infectious. In nontechnical senses, contagious emphasizes the rapidity with which something spreads: Contagious laughter ran through the hall. Infectious suggests the pleasantly irresistible quality of something: Her infectious good humor made her a popular guest.

Example Sentences

Whooping cough — a highly contagious and potentially dangerous illness — has surged in California this year, staging a comeback to levels not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times

This highly contagious virus, which can cause severe liver inflammation, has evolved to spread through close person-to-person contact or through contaminated food and water.

From Science Daily

As whooping cough cases rise in the U.S., a new nasal vaccine developed by Tulane University may hold the key to reducing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease.

From Science Daily

"There are some indications that this kind of leadership could be contagious, with a leader's volatility fostering volatility in others," he says.

From Science Daily

He is credited with discovering the scientific basis for diagnosing and managing violence as a contagious disease and is the founder of the NGO Cure Violence Global.

From Salon

Related Words

• deadly
• endemic
• infectious
• poisonous
• spreading