contagion

noun

con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən 

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

Up to 2007 the global financial system had become interconnected, which is why contagion spread across the international financial system. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The financial contagion caused by pro and anti-ESG actors is already spreading into another area of public finance. —Carlos Curbelo, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024

Industry analysts were not voicing concerns over any sort of contagion in the banking sector Friday given the unique circumstances that have led up to recent issues at New York Community Bancorp, its exposure to commercial real estate and the tremendous leap in its market capitalization. —Michelle Chapman, Quartz, 1 Mar. 2024

Fear of contagion has led to tremendous stigmatization and social exclusion. —Robert A. Schwartz, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024

Industry analysts still say NYCB’s troubles appear relatively unique to the bank and downplayed the risk of contagion in the banking sector. —Stan Choe, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024

At this time last year, federal banking officials tamped down growing anxiety over contagion in the banking sector and President Joe Biden called for tougher regulations after two banks that failed in one weekend in mid-March. —Michelle Chapman, Quartz, 1 Mar. 2024

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

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

Kids Definition

contagion

noun

con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən 

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 

1

: the transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact

2

: contagious disease

3

: a disease-producing agent (as a virus)