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

The stock market has tended to shrug off other military eruptions over the following years, even when share prices fell sharply upon the outbreak of hostilities.

From Los Angeles Times

The main international oil contract, Brent crude, is currently up roughly 41 percent from just before the outbreak of the war and up around 68 percent from the start of the year.

From Barron's

More recently, California became the first state to join a global outbreak response network coordinated by the World Health Organization, followed by Illinois and New York.

From Los Angeles Times

In the days following the outbreak of war in Iran, cryptocurrencies initially rallied.

From Barron's

Energy markets were rocked this week by the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply originates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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