epidemic

[ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk]

epidemic Definition

• 1. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
• 2. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon

Using epidemic: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "epidemic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The COVID-19 epidemic has affected millions of people worldwide.

• Example

  The opioid epidemic is a major public health crisis in the United States.

• Example

  There was an epidemic of violence in the city last year.

• Example

  The epidemic of obesity is a growing concern in many countries.

epidemic Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for epidemic

• outbreak
• pandemic
• infection
• contagion
• plague

Phrases with epidemic

• epidemic disease

  a disease that spreads rapidly and affects many individuals at the same time

  Example

  The Spanish flu was an epidemic disease that killed millions of people in the early 20th century.

• epidemic curve

  a graph showing the number of cases of a disease over time during an epidemic

  Example

  The epidemiologists used the epidemic curve to track the spread of the disease.

• epidemic threshold

  the minimum number of cases of a disease that must occur in a population for it to be considered an epidemic

  Example

  The health officials declared an epidemic after the number of cases exceeded the epidemic threshold.

Origins of epidemic

from French 'épidémique', from Greek 'epidēmia', meaning 'prevalence of an epidemic disease'

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Summary: epidemic in Brief

The term 'epidemic' [ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk] refers to a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease or a particular undesirable phenomenon. It is often used to describe a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease or a problem in a community. Examples include the COVID-19 epidemic and the opioid epidemic. The term extends into phrases like 'epidemic disease,' 'epidemic curve,' and 'epidemic threshold.'