contagion

[ kuhn-tey-juhn ]

/ kənˈteɪ dʒən /

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See synonyms for contagion on Thesaurus.com

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.

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Origin of contagion

1350–1400; Middle English (<Middle French ) <Latin contāgiōn- (stem of contāgiō) contact, infection, equivalent to con-con- + tāg- (variant stem of tangere to touch) + -iōn--ion; cf. contact

OTHER WORDS FROM contagion

con·ta·gioned, adjectivenon·con·ta·gion, noun

Words nearby contagion

contact sport, contact tracing, Contadora, Contadora Group, Contadoran, contagion, contagious, contagious abortion, contagious disease, contagious ecthyma, contagious magic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contagion in a sentence

Standard vaccine studies involve thousands of participants, must recruit in areas where contagion is naturally high, and typically take months or even years as researchers wait to see how many people contract the disease.
UK scientists are pushing for the world’s first coronavirus challenge trials|Olivia Goldhill|September 24, 2020|Quartz
Facing flare-ups from late June through August that were sometimes higher than the initial spread of contagion, countries initially refrained from blanket orders.
As infection rates rise, Europe embraces a ‘lockdown lite’ strategy|kdunn6|September 24, 2020|Fortune
The World Health Organization acknowledged the airborne spread of particles in July and hundreds of scientists have written about this form of contagion.
With every reversal of Covid-19 guidance, the CDC is losing the battle for public trust|Olivia Goldhill|September 22, 2020|Quartz
Hungary’s decision to close its borders is based on its own “traffic light system” for contagion risk, which currently shows Hungary as green and everyone else as red.
As Europe’s COVID-19 numbers rise, Hungary becomes first EU country to reimpose blanket border restrictions|David Meyer|September 1, 2020|Fortune

There are a lot of upsides to urban density — but viral contagion is not one of them.
What Does Covid-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)? (Ep. 410)|Stephen J. Dubner|March 26, 2020|Freakonomics
In addition, the protests had been largely contained to very specific areas and the fear of contagion never materialized.
Police Brutality Inflames Hong Kong|Ben Leung|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As scary as contagion can seem, nobody should be panicking, no matter which virus happens to be making the headlines.
What You Need to Know About Enterovirus|Russell Saunders|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Further, the contagion effect of suicide and the resultant attention to it is a well-documented phenomenon.
'Genie, You're Free': Suicide Is Not Liberation|Russell Saunders|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But although desire cannot be imparted by argument, it can be by contagion.
The Real Memorial Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes's Salute To A Momentous American Anniversary|Malcolm Jones|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, we have been inoculated from the experience of contagion.
When TB Was a Death Sentence: An Excerpt From ‘The Remedy’|Thomas Goetz|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It may be transmitted through the air for short distances, not nearly so far as the air will carry the contagion of smallpox.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
The contagion is spread just as that of smallpox is spread, except that it is not carried through the air so far.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
The specific cause of typhus is unknown, but the contagion develops and reproduces itself in the body of the patient.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Curiously enough, for the next two days and nights a perfect contagion of watching seemed to have spread through the village.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
Wedding-cards have been pouring in till the contagion has reached us; Edith will be married next Thursday.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various

British Dictionary definitions 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

Scientific definitions for contagion

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.

contagion

Origin of contagion

OTHER WORDS FROM contagion

Words nearby contagion

Words related to contagion

How to use contagion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contagion

Word Origin for contagion

Scientific definitions for contagion