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contagion
[ kuhn-tey-juhn ]
/ kənˈteɪ dʒən /
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM contagion
con·ta·gioned, adjectivenon·con·ta·gion, nounWords nearby contagion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use contagion in a sentence
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.