Could You Pass The SAT? Test Yourself!

pandemic

[ pan-dem-ik ]
/ pænˈdɛm ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pandemic ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

Fend Off Sciolism With This Word Of The Day Quiz
Are you the Cinderella of this week’s quiz? Test your memory on the words and definitions from March 23–29.
Question 1 of 7
schlep
to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly
to fold or wind around something
to carry; lug
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pandemic

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

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

Words nearby pandemic

pandavas, pandean, pandean pipes, pandect, pandects of justinian, pandemic, pandemonium, pander, pandiculation, pandit, pandora
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Content related to pandemic

“Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic”It's unsurprisingly easy to confuse these two words, but we're here with a handy rule of thumb to help you learn the difference.
READ MORE
Coronavirus: The Words You Need To Understand the NewsThe situation of the coronavirus outbreak is changing fast, so we've created a glossary of some of the most important terms about COVID-19 to keep you up-to-date and in-the-know.
READ MORE

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.