communicable
adjective
com·mu·ni·ca·ble
kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl 
1
: capable of being communicated : transmittable
communicable diseases
a communicable skin rash
see also communicable disease
2
: communicative
prove myself a gentleman, by being … virtuous and communicable—
Izaac Walton
Izaac WaltonExamples of communicable in a Sentence
communicable diseases that are usually transmitted sexually
Recent Examples on the Web
Measles outbreaks erupted in the U.S. this year because a highly communicable virus, sometimes circulating abroad, infected a rising population of unvaccinated Americans as well as some visitors from abroad who traveled in this country.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025
Hanage foresees wastewater analysis being used to track other communicable viruses, like mpox.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024
This misconception tends to be due to the rise in influenza and other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months.
—Patty Weasler, Rn, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
During the war in Yemen, for example, Saudi forces have cut off local populations’ access to clean water and sanitation, placing citizens at high risk for communicable illnesses.
—Marwa Daoudy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for communicable
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Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025
Hanage foresees wastewater analysis being used to track other communicable viruses, like mpox.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024
This misconception tends to be due to the rise in influenza and other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months.
—Patty Weasler, Rn, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
During the war in Yemen, for example, Saudi forces have cut off local populations’ access to clean water and sanitation, placing citizens at high risk for communicable illnesses.
—Marwa Daoudy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for communicable
Cite this Entry
“Communicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communicable. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
communicable
adjective
com·mu·ni·ca·ble
kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl
: capable of being transferred or carried from one person or thing to another
communicable diseases
Medical Definition
communicable
adjective
com·mu·ni·ca·ble
kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl
: capable of being transmitted from person to person, animal to animal, animal to human, or human to animal : transmissible
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