outbreak

American  

[out-breyk] / ˈaʊtˌbreɪk /

noun

1. a sudden breaking break out or occurrence, especially of something bad or unpleasant; eruption.

   the outbreak of war.

2. a sudden and active manifestation.

   an outbreak of hives.

3. a sudden increase in the incidence of a disease or medical condition in a particular place or population: a worldwide polio outbreak in the early 1900s.

   a serious outbreak of malaria in northern Uganda;

   a worldwide polio outbreak in the early 1900s.

4. an outburst.

   an outbreak of temper.

5. an insurrection, revolt, or mutiny.

6. a public disturbance; riot.

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outbreak British  

/ ˈaʊtˌbreɪk /

noun

1. a sudden, violent, or spontaneous occurrence, esp of disease or strife

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Etymology

Origin of outbreak

First recorded in 1595–1605; out- + break

Example Sentences

“Prices have climbed since the outbreak of the war, but at a much slower pace than overall crude oil.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Dogs at the Chesterfield Square animal shelter have been kept inside their kennels for three weeks due to a giardia outbreak.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

With the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, gold fell around 12% in March.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Could a patient sue a doctor who counsels against the measles vaccine in the midst of an outbreak?

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

And through Twitter, Facebook, and PIH’s own website, when new health and humanitarian crises occur, such as the January 2010 earthquake and the 2010-2012 cholera outbreak in Haiti, the response can be instantaneous.

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

Related Words

• crash
• disruption
• epidemic
• eruption
• explosion
• flare-up
• onset
• plague
• storm
• surge
• uprising