endemic

American  

[en-dem-ik] / ɛnˈdɛm ɪk /

adjective

1. natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous.

   The group is committed to preserving the endemic folkways of their nation.

   The recession hit especially hard in countries where high unemployment is endemic.

2. belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place.

   When traveling, he caught a fever endemic to the tropics.

3. (of a disease) persisting in a population or region, generally having settled to a relatively constant rate of occurrence.

   The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may never disappear, but could become endemic like the flu.

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noun

1. an endemic disease.

endemic British  

/ ɛnˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. present within a localized area or peculiar to persons in such an area

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noun

1. an endemic disease or plant

endemic Scientific  

/ ĕn-dĕm′ĭk /

1. Relating to a disease or pathogen that is found in or confined to a particular location, region, or people. Malaria, for example, is endemic to tropical regions.

2. See also epidemic pandemic

3. Native to a specific region or environment and not occurring naturally anywhere else. The giant sequoia is endemic to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

4. Compare alien indigenous

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Usage

What does endemic mean? Endemic is an adjective that means natural to, native to, confined to, or widespread within a place or population of people. Endemic is perhaps most commonly used to describe a disease that is prevalent in or restricted to a particular location, region, or population. For example, malaria is said to be endemic to tropical regions. In this context, it can also be used as a noun: an endemic disease can simply be called an endemic. When used to describe species of plants or animals that are found only within a specific place, it has the same meaning as native or indigenous, as in This plant is endemic to this region. It can also be applied to characteristics of a people, place, or situation, as in Corruption was endemic in that organization when I worked there.

Other Word Forms

• endemically
  adverb
• endemicity
  noun
• endemism
  noun
• nonendemic
  adjective
• unendemic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of endemic

First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin endēmicus, equivalent to Greek éndēm(os) “dwelling in a place, native, (of disease) endemic” (from en- “within, in” + dêm(os) “people, district”) + Latin -icus adjective suffix; see en- ², deme, -ic

Explanation

If you want to underscore just how commonly found and present something is within a particular place, try the word endemic. The saguaro cactus is endemic, or native, to the American southwest — so watch out for its sharp spines when you're hiking in Arizona! Although endemic meaning "prevalent" often describes a plant or disease, it can also refer to something less tangible and more unwanted such as violence or poverty. Many complain of endemic corruption in the local government. Despite its -ic ending, endemic can also be used as a noun to signify a plant or animal that is prevalent in a certain region. If an endemic is brought to another area which it takes over, destroying the local population, it's classified as an invasive species.

Example Sentences

Hantavirus spreads from the urine, faeces and saliva of infected rodents and is endemic in Argentina, where the MV Hondius set sail on April 1 for a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

The Andes virus, a strain of the disease that’s endemic to Argentina, similarly passes from the exposure of wild rodent particles.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

The Andes virus is endemic to Argentina and Chile.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Ms. Shortland argues that, much as we could not eliminate Covid-19 but had to learn to mitigate its effects and then live with it, we must accept that ransomware is endemic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

What with this and the trouble yesterday concerning the lack of water in the radiator, it would not be unreasonable for an observer to believe such general disorganization endemic to my nature.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro