Dictionary.com

pandemic

[ pan-dem-ik ]
/ pænˈdɛm ɪk /
See synonyms for: pandemic / pandemics on Thesaurus.com

adjective

(of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area.Compare epidemic (def. 1).
general; universal: pandemic fear of atomic war.

noun

a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world.

QUIZZES

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In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
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seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
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Origin of pandemic

First recorded in 1660–70; from Late Latin pandēm(us), from Greek pándēmos “common, public” (pan- “all” + dêm(os) “the people” + -os adjective suffix) + -ic;see pan-

OTHER WORDS FROM pandemic

pan·de·mi·a [pan-dee-mee-uh], /pænˈdi mi ə/, nounpan·de·mic·i·ty [pan-duh-mis-i-tee], /ˌpæn dəˈmɪs ɪ ti/, nounin·ter·pan·dem·ic, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pandemic

endemic, epidemic, pandemic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to pandemic

catholic, cosmopolitan, empyrean, generic, comprehensive, general, regular, common, broad, sweeping, total, whole, accepted, all, all-inclusive, astronomical, celestial, cosmic, customary, diffuse

Example sentences from the Web for pandemic

British Dictionary definitions for pandemic

pandemic
/ (pænˈdɛmɪk) /

adjective

(of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic

noun

a pandemic disease

Word Origin for pandemic

C17: from Late Latin pandēmus, from Greek pandēmos general, from pan- + demos the people
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

Medical definitions for pandemic

pandemic
[ păn-dĕm′ĭk ]

adj.

Epidemic over a wide geographic area.

n.

A pandemic disease.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for pandemic

pandemic
[ păn-dĕm′ĭk ]

An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for pandemic

pandemic

A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.