endemic
[ en-dem-ik ]
/ ɛnˈdɛm ɪk /
adjective Also en·dem·i·cal.
natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic.
belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place: a fever endemic to the tropics.
noun
an endemic disease.
Nearby words
Origin of endemic
Related forms
en·dem·i·cal·ly, adverben·de·mism [en-duh-miz-uh m] /ˈɛn dəˌmɪz əm/, en·de·mic·i·ty [en-duh-mis-i-tee] /ˌɛn dəˈmɪs ɪ ti/, nounnon·en·dem·ic, adjectiveun·en·dem·ic, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for endemicity
endemic
/ (ɛnˈdɛmɪk) /
adjective Also: endemial (ɛnˈdɛmɪəl), endemical
present within a localized area or peculiar to persons in such an area
noun
an endemic disease or plant
Derived Forms
endemically, adverbendemism or endemicity, nounWord Origin for endemic
C18: from New Latin endēmicus, from Greek endēmos native, from en- ² + dēmos the people
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for endemicity
endemic
[ ĕn-dĕm′ĭk ]
adj.
Prevalent in or restricted to a particular region, community, or group of people. Used of a disease.
Enzootic.
Related forms
en•dem′i•cal•ly adv.en•dem′ism n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for endemicity
endemic
[ ĕn-dĕm′ĭk ]
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. See also epidemic pandemic.
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. Compare alien indigenous.
Usage
A disease that occurs regularly in a particular area, as malaria does in many tropical countries, is said to be endemic. The word endemic, built from the prefix en-, in or within, and the Greek word demos, people, means within the people (of a region). A disease that affects many more people than usual in a particular area or that spreads into regions in which it does not usually occur is said to be epidemic. This word, built from the prefix epi-, meaning upon, and demos, means upon the people. In order for a disease to become epidemic it must be highly contagious, that is, easily spread through a population. Influenza has been the cause of many epidemics throughout history. Epidemics of waterborne diseases such as cholera often occur after natural disasters such as earthquakes and severe storms that disrupt or destroy sanitation systems and supplies of fresh water.
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