contagious disease

noun

plural contagious diseases

: an infectious disease (such as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Note: The terms contagious disease and communicable disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases such as malaria or schistosomiasis that are spread by contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes or ticks) are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.

Examples of contagious disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The highly contagious disease spread like wildfire through California’s most vulnerable populations — people who were immunocompromised, frail and elderly. —Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024

Rinaldi employees assembled a death certificate, an affidavit, a county health department letter stating the body was free from contagious diseases and a burial transit permit. —Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2024

Cruises developed a reputation during the pandemic, as their closed quarters, conducive to contagious disease, sometimes resulted in boats docking early. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 May 2024

Measles is a highly contagious disease in which 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus can be infected via airborne particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024

Living conditions were overcrowded, unsanitary, and full of contagious diseases, which children then spread throughout classrooms. —TIME, 8 May 2024

In February, an infant who had traveled overseas was diagnosed with the highly contagious disease. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024

Which contagious disease is seeing a rise in the US? 7. —CNN, 21 Mar. 2024

Birds can carry highly contagious diseases affecting poultry, like the virulent Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. —Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

contagious disease

noun

: an infectious disease (as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Note: The terms contagious disease and communicable disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases (as malaria or schistosomiasis) that are spread by contact with disease vectors (as mosquitoes or ticks) are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.