epidemiology

[ ep-i-dee-mee-ol-uh-jee, -dem-ee- ]
See synonyms for epidemiology on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the study, assessment, and analysis of public health concerns in a given population; the tracking of patterns and effects of diseases, environmental toxins, natural disasters, violence, terrorist attacks, etc.: Without the profiles gleaned through epidemiology, our health agencies would be at a terrible loss when something like COVID-19 emerges.

Origin of epidemiology

1
First recorded in 1870–75; epidemi(c) + -o- + -logy

Other words from epidemiology

  • ep·i·de·mi·o·log·i·cal [ep-i-dee-mee-uh-loj-i-kuhl, -dem-ee-], /ˌɛp ɪˌdi mi əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl, -ˌdɛm i-/, adjective
  • ep·i·de·mi·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • ep·i·de·mi·ol·o·gist, noun

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

How to use epidemiology in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for epidemiology

epidemiology

/ (ˌɛpɪˌdiːmɪˈɒlədʒɪ) /


noun
  1. the branch of medical science concerned with the occurrence, transmission, and control of epidemic diseases

Derived forms of epidemiology

  • epidemiological (ˌɛpɪˌdiːmɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjective
  • epidemiologically, adverb
  • epidemiologist, noun

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 epidemiology

epidemiology

[ ĕp′ĭ-dē′mē-ŏlə-jē ]


  1. The scientific study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.