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; cf. contact

Explanation

Have you ever noticed how when one person yawns, the people around him tend to do so as well? This phenomenon can be described as a contagion, the spreading of an emotional or mental state (in this case, fatigue). Contagion can apply not only to the spread of emotions but also to the spread of disease. If you’re feeling sick, you should stay home to reduce the risk of contagion. (Be sure to use the word contagion when you call in sick; it’s a great opportunity to impress people with your vocabulary.) Contagion is akin to the word contagious, an adjective describing things that spread from person to person, like certain diseases... and yawning.

Example Sentences

Contagion has spread across the wider region: This week, Egypt’s pound crashed to a record low against the dollar on concerns that more expensive energy imports will strain fragile government finances.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Chukwudi Iwuji, who began his acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK, and Phillip James Brannon, best known for his Broadway roles and the movie Contagion, also star.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2025

He quoted a tweet in which the employee said that re-watching “Her” “felt a lot like rewatching Contagion in Feb 2020.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024

The 2011 bio-disaster thriller Contagion also solicited input from scientists—and it shows, says Tara Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University.

From National Geographic • Dec. 29, 2023

Contagion, why, this was worse than snakes, since you couldn’t see it coming!

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• contamination
• illness
• pollution
• virus