contagion

noun

con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
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

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 on the Web The fintech contagion spread across the ocean on Wednesday following a dramatic repricing in the European sector. WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023 And our most American contagion claims another victim. Suzette Hackney, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024 The troubles in the US commercial property market, which have already hit banks in New York and Japan, moved to Europe this week, elevating fears about broader contagion. Giulia Morpurgo, Fortune Europe, 7 Feb. 2024 Littman coined the term in a previous study to describe the phenomenon whereby kids suddenly arrive at a trans identity because of trauma, mental-health challenges, or social contagion rather than persistent feelings of gender dysphoria. Ian Kingsbury, National Review, 9 Jan. 2024 The Fed managed to keep contagion from spreading further. Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 18 Dec. 2023 In their rush to contain contagion, some parents and experts fear schools may have inadvertently amplified the threat. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023 That was in June 2023, just a few months after the Federal Reserve took extraordinary measures to prevent banking contagion after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, then the second-largest in U.S. history. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024 Related article Banks are being rocked again as real estate losses mount Word quickly spread on Wall Street that the regional bank was under pressure, igniting a bout of selling of other bank stocks over fears of contagion. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contagion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contagioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contagiun, borrowed from Latin contāgiōn, contāgiō "contact, contact resulting in disease, infection, pollution," from contag-, variant stem of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot" + -iōn-, -iō, suffix of action nouns formed from compound verbs — more at contingent entry 1

Note: The vowel length in contāgiō is unexpected and difficult to explain; a similarly lengthened vowel is found in other deverbal derivatives with -ag- as a second member (compāgēs "bond, joint," from pangere, ambāgēs "circuitous path," from agere; see agent, pact).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of contagion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near contagion

Cite this Entry

“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contagion. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

contagion

noun
con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
1
: the passing of a disease from one individual to another by direct or indirect contact
2
: a contagious disease or something (as a virus) that causes a contagious disease

Medical Definition

contagion

noun
con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
1
: the transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact
2
3
: a disease-producing agent (as a virus)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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