communicable

American  

[kuh-myoo-ni-kuh-buhl] / kəˈmyu nɪ kə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being easily communicated or transmitted.

   communicable information; a communicable disease.

2. talkative; communicative.

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communicable British  

/ kəˈmjuːnɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being communicated

2. (of a disease or its causative agent) capable of being passed on readily

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communicable Scientific  

/ kə-myo̅o̅′nĭ-kə-bəl /

1. Capable of being transmitted from a person or animal to another person or animal, either through direct or indirect transmission, including insect or other vectors. Chickenpox is a communicable disease.

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Other Word Forms

• communicability noun
• communicableness noun
• communicably adverb

Etymology

Origin of communicable

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin commūnicābilis, equivalent to commūnicā ( re ) ( communicate ) + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Ferrer said the county depends on nearly $1 billion in federal funding annually to track and prevent communicable diseases and combat chronic health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

The one good thing that came from that time was tons of data about what works to prevent communicable illnesses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

Early germ theory did not point to solutions, and the interventions used to control communicable diseases — clean water, clean cities, and vaccinations — were not effective.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2025

"Vaccines are always our best defence against infectious, communicable diseases," adds Dr Williams.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2025

When an epidemic of mumps broke out in the school, Katie went into action against communicable diseases.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith