Main Entry: ¹ep·i·dem·ic

Pronunciation: \ˌep-ə-ˈdem-ik\

Variant(s): also ep·i·dem·i·cal \-i-kəl\

Function: adjective

1 : affecting or tending to affect an atypically large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time <typhoid was epidemic>—compare endemic, sporadic 1
2 : of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic <coronary disease…has hit epidemic proportions—Herbert Ratner>

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