superspreader

or su·per-spread·er

[ soo-per-spred-er ]

noun

1. Pathology. a person who spreads a contagious disease more easily and widely than the average infected person:

   About forty percent of the superspreaders had no symptoms of the virus.

2. superspreading event ( def 2 ).

Other Words From

• su·per·spread·ing su·per-spread·ing [soo, -per-spred-ing] adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of superspreader¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Public health experts have spent the week advising against potential coronavirus superspreader viewing parties, and in Tampa, Raymond James Stadium will be about one-third full.

From Washington Post

The main superspreaders of extremist content remain centralized corporate platforms like Facebook and YouTube, not open-source privacy platforms.

From Time

Experts have warned the storming of the Capitol building could have contributed to the public health crisis as a potential superspreader event.

From Washington Post

Sometimes virus variants appear to seem to spread more easily but in fact are being propelled by luck, like a superspreader event.

From MIT Technology Review

In most areas, there have been few to no documented outbreaks, much less superspreader events.

From Washington Post