epidemiology

ep·i·de·mi·ol·o·gy

noun \-jē\

plural ep·i·de·mi·ol·o·gies

Definition of EPIDEMIOLOGY

1

: a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population

2

: the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen

—ep·i·de·mi·o·log·i·cal \-ˌdē-mē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl, -ˌdem-ē-\ also ep·i·de·mi·o·log·ic \-ik\ adjective

—ep·i·de·mi·o·log·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb