帮助中心

epidemic

[ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk]

epidemic Definition

  • 1a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
  • 2a 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

Phrases with epidemic

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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'

📌

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.'

How do native speakers use this expression?