pandemic

American  

[pan-dem-ik] / pænˈdɛm ɪk /

adjective

1. (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area.

2. general; universal.

   pandemic fear of atomic war.

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noun

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

pandemic British  

/ pænˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a pandemic disease

pandemic Scientific  

/ păn-dĕm′ĭk /

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

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pandemic Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• interpandemic
  adjective
• pandemia
  noun
• pandemicity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pandemic

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; see pan-

Explanation

Remember the 2009 swine flu? That was a pandemic — an illness that swept over much of the globe. People fear pandemics, and with good reason. The black plague that ran through Asia and Europe in the 1300s is believed to have killed as much as half of Europe's population, between 75 and 100 million folks. The word comes from ancient Greek — pan (meaning "all") and demos (meaning "people"), or simply put — all the people. Of course, people across the globe suffer from the seasonal flu, and many die from it. But it isn't considered a pandemic because it is generally harmless to the healthy.

Example Sentences

She also noted that retailers’ results have come against the backdrop of a 30% increase in grocery prices since before the pandemic.

From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026

"We have seen a growing public sector during the pandemic, that has brought with it additional costs, and in the same time period wages have increased," she said.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

The jobs filled last year were down from 2022, 2023 and 2024, when more teens worked coming out of the pandemic and there were more jobs for them.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

That was before the pandemic brought Marvel’s timelines to our television screens and “The Boys” to what is now called Prime Video.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

This misinformation didn’t stop the pandemic; some places saw death rates as high as 10 percent.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock