contagious

con·ta·gious

adj \-jəs\

Definition of CONTAGIOUS

1

: communicable by contact : catching <contagious diseases>

2

: bearing contagion <contagious people>

3

: used for contagious diseases <a contagious ward>

4

: exciting similar emotions or conduct in others <contagious enthusiasm>

— con·ta·gious·ly adverb

— con·ta·gious·ness noun

Examples of CONTAGIOUS

1. It's a highly contagious virus.
2. I have a cold and I'm still contagious.
3. I'm sick, but the doctor says I'm not contagious.

First Known Use of CONTAGIOUS

14th century

Related to CONTAGIOUS

Synonyms: catching, communicable, pestilent, transmissible, transmittable

Antonyms: noncommunicable

Related Words: infectious, infective

Near Antonyms: noninfectious

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with CONTAGIOUS

courageous, outrageous, rampageous, umbrageous