infectious disease

American  

[in-fek-shuhs di-zeez] / ɪnˈfɛk ʃəs dɪˈziz /

noun

1. a disease caused by a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism, and often spreading by contact between individuals or by a vector such as an insect: ID

   Chicken pox and cholera are infectious diseases.

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infectious disease Scientific  

1. A disease caused by a microorganism or other agent, such as a bacterium, fungus, or virus, that enters the body of an organism.

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Etymology

Origin of infectious disease

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Thrust back into the front line by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, infectious disease experts have to balance informing the public about its potential risks without provoking undue fear of a Covid-scale pandemic.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Public health and infectious disease specialists will assess whether the individuals are able to self-isolate at home, or whether another location should be arranged.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

In infectious disease settings, for instance, systems that detect infections are often designed to accept more false positives to avoid missing contagious individuals.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

It’s reasonable for people to be concerned about this latest outbreak, said Dr. Nicole Iovine, chief medical epidemiologist and an infectious disease expert at the University of Florida Shands Hospital.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Or would it be the belief that every life was sacred, and that MDR potentially threatened more lives than any other infectious disease?

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French