epidemic

[ep-i-dem-ik]

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.

extremely prevalent; widespread.

noun

a temporary prevalence of a disease.

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

Origin of epidemic

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

Related formsep·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

Can be confusedendemic epidemic pandemic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for epidemical

Historical Examples of epidemical

It appears often in the epidemical form and spreads by contagion.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.)
Grant Hague
But there was raging then a sort of epidemical belief in native deficiency and in the absolute necessity of importing art talent.
Art in England
Dutton Cook
First, the physicians are to take care that they do nothing to irritate this epidemical distemper.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VI. (of 12)
Edmund Burke
This disease exactly resembled that which was so epidemical in the year 1733.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)
Charles Creighton
I am charmed to see a part of your Majesty's Dominions in a state of Pyrrhonism; the disease is epidemical here at present.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XII. (of XXI.)
Thomas Carlyle

British Dictionary definitions for epidemical

epidemic

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 Formsepidemically, 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

Word Origin and History for epidemical

epidemic

1757, from epidemic (adj.); earlier epideme (see epidemy). An Old English noun for this (persisting in Middle English) was man-cwealm.

epidemic

adj.

c.1600, from French épidémique, from épidemié "an epidemic disease," from Medieval Latin epidemia, from Greek epidemia "prevalence of an epidemic disease" (especially the plague), from epi "among, upon" (see epi-) + demos "people, district" (see demotic).

epidemical in Medicine

epidemic

[ĕp′ĭ-dĕm′ĭk]

adj.

Spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and affecting many individuals in an area or population at the same time, as of a disease or illness.

n.

An outbreak or unusually high occurrence of a disease or illness in a population or area.

epidemical in Science

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.

epidemical in Culture

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.