epidemic

¹ep·i·dem·ic

adj \ˌe-pə-ˈde-mik\

Definition of EPIDEMIC

1

: affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time <typhoid was epidemic>

2

a : excessively prevalent b : contagious 4 <epidemic laughter>

3

: characterized by very widespread growth or extent : of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic <the practice had reached epidemic proportions>

— ep·i·dem·i·cal \-ˈde-mi-kəl\ adjective

— ep·i·dem·i·cal·ly \-ˈde-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— ep·i·de·mic·i·ty \-də-ˈmi-sə-tē\ noun

Examples of EPIDEMIC

1. <the little girl's giggles were epidemic, and soon the entire gathering was laughing>
2. Overuse injuries—particularly in the elbows and shoulders of young pitchers—are indeed becoming epidemic. Orthopedists often blame coaches and parents for failing to monitor how many pitches kids are throwing and for not giving them time to rest their arms. —Sara Corbett, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2006
3. The dream of running off to live the good life in a postcard perfect town in the mountains or by the sea often reaches epidemic proportions near the end of summer. —John Rasmus, National Geographic, September 2004
4. Saturday Night Fever propelled disco fever to epidemic proportions: By 1978, 40 percent of all the music on Billboard's Hot 100 was disco. —Peter Braunstein, American Heritage, November 1999

Origin of EPIDEMIC

French épidémique, from Middle French, from epidemie, noun, epidemic, from Late Latin epidemia, from Greek epidēmia visit, epidemic, from epidēmos visiting, epidemic, from epi- + dēmos people — more at demagogue

First Known Use: 1603

Related to EPIDEMIC

Synonyms: catching, contagious, infectious, spreading

Related Words: palpable, perceptible, tangible; irresistible (also irresistable), overpowering, overwhelming; disarming, endearing, fetching, inviting, winning, winsome

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Other Medicine Terms

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

Rhymes with EPIDEMIC

academic, epistemic