pandemic

American  

[pan-dem-ik] / pænˈdɛm ɪk /

adjective

1. (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area.

2. general; universal.

   pandemic fear of atomic war.

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noun

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

pandemic British  

/ pænˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a pandemic disease

pandemic Scientific  

/ păn-dĕm′ĭk /

1. An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.

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pandemic Cultural  

1. A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.

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Other Word Forms

• interpandemic
  adjective
• pandemia
  noun
• pandemicity
  noun

Etymology

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-

Explanation

Remember the 2009 swine flu? That was a pandemic — an illness that swept over much of the globe. People fear pandemics, and with good reason. The black plague that ran through Asia and Europe in the 1300s is believed to have killed as much as half of Europe's population, between 75 and 100 million folks. The word comes from ancient Greek — pan (meaning "all") and demos (meaning "people"), or simply put — all the people. Of course, people across the globe suffer from the seasonal flu, and many die from it. But it isn't considered a pandemic because it is generally harmless to the healthy.

Example Sentences

That was before the pandemic brought Marvel’s timelines to our television screens and “The Boys” to what is now called Prime Video.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Jordan Firstman became a social-media star during the pandemic before leaping to HBO last fall with a role on “I Love LA.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

The pandemic, followed by the 2023 entertainment-industry strikes and the 2025 fires led to a prolonged loss of business.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

This was developed during the Covid pandemic and WHO scientists hope that if given to those who have come into contact with Ebola patients it will prevent infection.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

How does the Cuban missile crisis compare with twenty-first-century threats such as terrorism, climate change, and pandemic disease?

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin