definitions

pandemic

[ pan-dem-ik ]
/ pænˈdɛm ɪk /
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adjective

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

noun

a pandemic disease.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

pandavas, pandean, pandean pipes, pandect, pandects of justinian, pandemic, pandemonium, pander, pandiculation, pandit, pandora

Origin of pandemic

1660–70; < Late Latin pandēm(us) < Greek pándēmos common, public (pan- pan- + dêm(os) the people + -os adj. suffix) + -ic

Related forms

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

Can be confused

endemic epidemic pandemic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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

Medicine 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.

Science 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.

Culture 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.