pestilence

noun

pes·​ti·​lence ˈpe-stə-lən(t)s 

1

: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating

especially : bubonic plague

2

: something that is destructive or pernicious

I'll pour this pestilence into his ear …

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms of pestilence

• plague

Examples of pestilence in a Sentence

After years of war and pestilence, few people remained in the city.

the fear that terrorists could unleash a pestilence that would wreak unspeakable havoc

Recent Examples on the Web

Many who lived through the pandemic—and witnessed this inability to combat the lethal pestilence—developed scornful opinions of the medical profession. —Literary Hub, 27 May 2026

Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

Horses, donkeys, camels, and herds and flocks of other livestock die from the pestilence. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026

As an example, the celestial dog was thought to aid the sun in causing the intense heat, drought and pestilence of summer. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pestilence

noun

pes·​ti·​lence ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s 

: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that spreads quickly and is often fatal

especially : bubonic plague

Medical Definition

pestilence

noun

pes·​ti·​lence ˈpes-tə-lən(t)s 

: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating

specifically : bubonic plague