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

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

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

See Examples For:

endemic

His home being Hollywood—specifically a somewhat dank apartment, rendered in depressing detail by set designer François-Pierre Couture—Mr. Guimarães encounters qualities that are endemic to the place: for instance career envy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

The deer also reduce habitat and food sources for native birds and mammals, such as the endemic Catalina Island fox, Barton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Treponematosis refers to a group of diseases that includes syphilis, yaws and endemic syphilis.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

"That copying was extensive, seemingly endemic at least so far as the English language Wolfoo videos are concerned."

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

There is also another kind of plague to worry about: the plague bacillus is endemic all over the Earth.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan