communicable disease

noun

plural communicable diseases

: an infectious disease (such as cholera, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmissible by contact with infected individuals or their bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets, blood, or semen), by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes, fleas, or mice)

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

Examples of communicable disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under current Florida law, public school children must be vaccinated against polio, measles, mumps and other communicable diseases. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025

Areola's mission is vast, ranging from preventing deadly flu outbreaks and the spread of communicable diseases to addressing the opioid crisis, infant mortality and getting community buy-in to focus on prevention. —Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 28 Aug. 2025

Even after food supplies stabilize, a famine can sow the seeds for the development of future epidemics of non-communicable diseases. —Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025

California mandates reporting of abuse, neglect, violence and communicable disease to protect public safety — not to target undocumented individuals. —Sanya Dhama, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for communicable disease

• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees
• arrestees
• artistes
• assamese

Medical Definition

communicable disease

noun

: an infectious disease (as cholera, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmissible by contact with infected individuals or their bodily discharges or fluids (as respiratory droplets, blood, or semen), by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with disease vectors (as mosquitoes, fleas, or mice)

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