contagion

noun con·ta·gion \ kən-ˈtā-jən \

Definition of contagion

1 a :a contagious disease

b :the transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact

c :a disease-producing agent (such as a virus)

2 a :poison

b :contagious influence, quality, or nature

c :corrupting influence or contact

3 a :rapid communication of an influence (such as a doctrine or emotional state)

b :an influence that spreads rapidly

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See contagion defined for kids

Examples of contagion in a Sentence

a disease that spreads by contagion
People have been warned to keep out of the area to avoid contagion.

Recent Examples of contagion from the Web

Such is the horror of contagion, that one sort of outcast fears being tainted by association with another sort.

— john defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Some Freaks': Fantasia Review," 4 Aug. 2017
One of the biggest concerns among psychologists and educators was that the show might spark a contagion effect, where increased coverage of suicide in the media leads to a related increase in suicide attempts.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Did 13 Reasons Why Spark a Suicide Contagion Effect?," 1 Aug. 2017
The theory of media’s culpability in the spread of social contagions is not a new one.

— lee daniel kravetz, The Cut, "The Strange, Contagious History of Bulimia," 31 July 2017
Containing the contagion could prove a tricky business.

— clay chandler, Fortune, "China confronts its Lehman moment," 25 June 2017
Containing the contagion could prove a tricky business.

— clay chandler, Fortune, "CEO Daily: Saturday, June 24, 2017," 24 June 2017
With signs of contagion in the more vulnerable parts of the Spanish financial system, there may be a degree of schadenfreude among other European policy makers.

— esteban duarte, Bloomberg.com, "Guindos Defending ECB Credentials as Banco Popular Takes Hit," 12 June 2017
For example, big firms want to preserve Dodd-Frank’s answer to ending bank bailouts and walling off contagion in the event of another crisis.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Investors brace for Comey effect on markets," 8 June 2017
Research has already found that civil wars produce a contagion effect.

— barbara f. walter, Washington Post, "The Internet is changing civil wars. Watch out for these five trends.," 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contagion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of contagion

Middle English, from Latin contagion-, contagio, from contingere to have contact with, pollute — more at contingent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

CONTAGION Defined for English Language Learners

contagion

noun

Definition of contagion for English Language Learners

: the process by which a disease is passed from one person or animal to another by touching
: a disease that can be passed from one person or animal to another by touching : a contagious disease