contagion

American  

[kuhn-tey-juhn] / kənˈteɪ dʒən /

noun

1. the communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.

2. a disease so communicated.

3. the medium by which a contagious disease is transmitted.

4. harmful or undesirable contact or influence.

5. the ready transmission or spread as of an idea or emotion from person to person.

   a contagion of fear.

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contagion British  

/ kənˈteɪdʒən /

noun

1. the transmission of disease from one person to another by direct or indirect contact

2. a contagious disease

3. another name for contagium

4. a corrupting or harmful influence that tends to spread; pollutant

5. the spreading of an emotional or mental state among a number of people

   the contagion of mirth

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contagion Scientific  

/ kən-tā′jən /

1. The transmission of an infectious disease resulting from direct or indirect contact between individuals or animals.

2. A disease that is transmitted in this way.

3. The agent that causes a contagious disease, such as a bacterium or a virus.

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Other Word Forms

• contagioned adjective
• noncontagion noun

Etymology

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; contact

Example Sentences

Many of Monday’s moves roughly aligned with the situation outlined by Citrini, in which fast-advancing AI tools allow spending cuts across industries, sparking mass white-collar unemployment and in turn leading to financial contagion.

From The Wall Street Journal

Investors are getting antsy about a credit bubble and contagion effects cross the $20 trillion industry.

From Barron's

Investors are getting antsy about a credit bubble and contagion effects cross the $20 trillion industry.

From Barron's

After tuberculosis and COVID-19 cases, both highly infectious contagions, were confirmed there, Escobar said that employees told her not to enter a certain area because detainees had yet to be tested.

From Salon

By maintaining control and stability on short-dated bills, “you prevent any contagion into the long end” and create a more steady environment overall for consumer and business borrowing, Tang noted.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• contamination
• illness
• pollution
• virus