contagion
[ kuh n-tey-juh n ]
/ kənˈteɪ dʒən /
noun
the communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.
a disease so communicated.
the medium by which a contagious disease is transmitted.
harmful or undesirable contact or influence.
the ready transmission or spread as of an idea or emotion from person to person: a contagion of fear.
RELATED WORDS
pollution, virus, illness, contamination, pestilence, transmission, taint, poison, bane, venom, plague, miasma, corruption
Nearby words
- contactor,
- contactual,
- contadora,
- contadora group,
- contadoran,
- contagious,
- contagious abortion,
- contagious disease,
- contagious granular conjunctivitis,
- contagious magic
Origin of contagion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for contagion
contagion
/ (kənˈteɪdʒən) /
noun
the transmission of disease from one person to another by direct or indirect contact
a contagious disease
another name for contagium
a corrupting or harmful influence that tends to spread; pollutant
the spreading of an emotional or mental state among a number of peoplethe contagion of mirth
Word Origin for contagion
C14: from Latin contāgiō a touching, infection, from contingere; see contact
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
contagion
late 14c., from Old French contagion, from Latin contagionem (nominative contagio) "a touching, contact, contagion," related to contingere "touch closely" (see contact (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
contagion
[ kən-tā′jən ]
n.
Disease transmission by direct or indirect contact.
A disease that is or may be transmitted by direct or indirect contact; a contagious disease.
The direct cause, such as a bacterium or virus, of a communicable disease.
The spread of a behavior pattern, attitude, or emotion from person to person or group to group through suggestion, propaganda, rumor, or imitation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
contagion
[ kən-tā′jən ]
The transmission of an infectious disease resulting from direct or indirect contact between individuals or animals.
A disease that is transmitted in this way.
The agent that causes a contagious disease, such as a bacterium or a virus.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.