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

“The burden of infectious disease around the world continues to be high and in many cases growing,” Skovronsky said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Other than measles, which is preventable, the U.S. is not the center of any major infectious disease outbreaks.

From Salon • May 20, 2026

If you’ve got a cruise booked, it’s perhaps worth thinking about how you might reduce your risk of infectious disease.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

In cases of human-to-human transmission, existing knowledge about environmental factors relating to contagion from rodents "does not apply," infectious disease specialist Maria Ester Lazaro told AFP.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Today, our jet planes have made even the longest intercontinental flights briefer than the duration of any human infectious disease.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond