epidemic
Meanings
Plural: epidemics
Noun
- a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
- A widespread disease that affects many humans in a population.
- An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a human population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period; an episode of outbreak and subsequent high prevalence.
- A heightened occurrence of anything harmful.
- The spreading of an idea or belief amongst a population.
Adjective
- (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously
- "an epidemic outbreak of influenza"
Adj
- Of, related to, or being an epidemic: a widespread outbreak of disease in humans.
- Like an epidemic: widespread in a bad way.
Origin / Etymology
From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, reanalysis of plural Late Latin epidēmia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidḗmios), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”). By surface analysis, epi- (“on”) + demic (“of the people”).
Synonyms
common, disseminated, extensive, far-flung, pervasive, predominant, prevailing, prevalent, regnant, rife, spread out, systemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread
Scrabble Score: 15
epidemic is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordepidemic is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
epidemic is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary