epidemic

[ ep-i-dem-ik ]

/ ˌɛp ɪˈdɛm ɪk /

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See synonyms for epidemic on Thesaurus.com

adjective

Also ep·i·dem·i·cal . (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.Compare pandemic (def. 1).

extremely prevalent; widespread.

noun

a temporary prevalence of a disease.

a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of epidemic

First recorded in 1595–1605; obsolete epidem(y) (from Late Latin epidēmia, from Greek epidēmía “staying in one place, among the people,” equivalent to epi- epi- + dêm(os) “people of a district” + -ia -y³) + -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM epidemic

ep·i·dem·i·cal·ly, adverbep·i·de·mic·i·ty

[ep-i-duh-mis-i-tee], /ˌɛp ɪ dəˈmɪs ɪ ti/, nounin·ter·ep·i·dem·ic, adjectivepre·ep·i·dem·ic, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH epidemic

endemic, epidemic , pandemic

Words nearby epidemic

epicycloid, epicycloidal gear, epicycloidal wheel, Epidaurus, epideictic, epidemic, epidemic encephalitis, epidemic meningitis, epidemic parotitis, epidemiology, epidendrum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use epidemic in a sentence

America’s coronavirus epidemic hit blue states particularly hard at first, especially in the Northeast.
Trump says US Covid-19 deaths would be low if you excluded blue states. That’s wrong.|German Lopez|September 17, 2020|Vox
Parents care about safety, and they feel that bullying has become an epidemic in our schools.
Our Public Schools Have a Customer Service Problem|Thomas Courtney|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
We didn’t take a stand on ending gun violence and the gun violence epidemic because of the impact that it has on perpetuating racism in this country.
Levi Strauss’s Chip Bergh on why he’s taking his most direct stance yet against structural racism|Ellen McGirt|September 1, 2020|Fortune
The coronavirus pandemic has shown anyone paying attention that epidemics do not end at borders.
Want to end HIV? Actions speak louder than sound bites|Cecilia Chung, Ronald Johnson, Naina Khanna and Sean Strub|August 22, 2020|Washington Blade

We have high rates of heart disease and diabetes and these factors make an already dangerous epidemic particularly lethal to folks like me, and to my community.
Queer communities need COVID relief now|Rune Longoria|August 20, 2020|Washington Blade
While public interest in Ebola continues to dwindle, the epidemic itself continues to soar.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With a mortality rate of 70 percent, the more cases that arise, the deadlier this epidemic becomes.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Has L.A. figured out how to stop the epidemic it set loose on the world?
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 29-Jan 4, 2014|William Boot|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In mid-summer, as the epidemic swept through the region, schools closed one by one.
The Radio Battle to Educate Ebola’s Kids|Abby Haglage|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rape and sexual assault may be less of an epidemic than other studies suggest.
College Girls Are Less Likely to Be Raped Than Non-Students|Brandy Zadrozny|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Added to this, an epidemic of cholera had just broken out in the town, and the childrens maid nearly fell a victim to the disease.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Hardly had the boys mother left St. Petersburg, when an epidemic of scarlet fever broke out in the school.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
At his instigation a persecution of unprecedented virulence raged like an epidemic throughout the empire.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow
In Richmond alone, approximately eight hundred people succumbed during this epidemic period.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
For example, a dreadful influenza epidemic occurred followed by a severe fuel shortage due to a railroad strike.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey

British Dictionary definitions for epidemic

epidemic

/ (ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk) /

adjective

(esp of a disease) attacking or affecting many persons simultaneously in a community or area

noun

a widespread occurrence of a diseasean influenza epidemic

a rapid development, spread, or growth of something, esp something unpleasantan epidemic of strikes

Derived forms of epidemic

epidemically, adverb

Word Origin for epidemic

C17: from French épidémique, via Late Latin from Greek epidēmia literally: among the people, from epi- + dēmos people

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for epidemic

epidemic

[ ĕp′ĭ-dĕm′ĭk ]

An outbreak of a disease or illness that spreads rapidly among individuals in an area or population at the same time. See also endemic pandemic.

Cultural definitions for epidemic

epidemic

A contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely among the population in an area. Immunization and quarantine are two of the methods used to control an epidemic.

epidemic

Origin of epidemic

OTHER WORDS FROM epidemic

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH epidemic

Words nearby epidemic

Words related to epidemic

How to use epidemic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for epidemic

Derived forms of epidemic

Word Origin for epidemic

Scientific definitions for epidemic

Cultural definitions for epidemic