contagious

adjective con·ta·gious \ kən-ˈtā-jəs \

Definition of contagious

1 :transmissible by direct or indirect contact with an infected person

contagious diseases

2 :bearing contagion

contagious people

3 :used for contagious diseases

a contagious ward

4 :exciting similar emotions or conduct in others

contagious enthusiasm

contagious laughter

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contagiously

adverb

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contagiousness

noun

See contagious defined for English-language learners

See contagious defined for kids

Examples of contagious in a Sentence

It's a highly contagious virus.
I have a cold and I'm still contagious.
I'm sick, but the doctor says I'm not contagious.

Recent Examples of contagious from the Web

Three San Diego State football players have been diagnosed with chickenpox, raising concerns that the highly contagious disease could spread to their Aztecs teammates.

— kirk kenney, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Three Aztecs football players have chickenpox; Long concerned there will be more," 13 Aug. 2017
The results don’t indicate that diabetes is contagious like a cold, but blood transfusions, or even food, may spread the disease.

— giorgia guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: Filthy kitchen sponges, Cold War espionage, and Greeks’ near-mythical origins," 4 Aug. 2017
Instability in South America, which has a way of becoming contagious, is never in the interest of the United States.

— the editors, National Review, "Helping Venezuela: Sanctions Are Only a Start," 1 Aug. 2017
Bulimia is so contagious that support groups and in-treatment facilities designed to help patients are also primary spreading agents.

— lee daniel kravetz, The Cut, "The Strange, Contagious History of Bulimia," 31 July 2017
The contagious liver disease can cause liver cancer or cirrhosis, and is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood.

— for kentuckyone health, The Courier-Journal, "FREE Hep C screenings throughout Louisville on July 28," 25 July 2017
At least four dogs at Louisville Metro Animal Services have had positive test results for a highly contagious strain of dog flu, the department announced Friday.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Highly contagious dog flu outbreak reaches Louisville Metro Animal Services," 14 July 2017
Delusion is contagious, competent criminals are hard to catch and there’s no empirical reason to believe Gulati, Garber or the rest of the current American soccer establishment was cognizant or complicit.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Chuck Blazer's trail of corruption, crime leaves U.S. colleagues facing his complex legacy," 13 July 2017
The Tasmanian devil was nearly wiped out 20 years ago when a contagious tumor began disfiguring its face and killing animals by the hundreds.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Rogue chromosome may be behind new contagious cancer striking Tasmanian devils," 10 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of contagious

see contagion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

contagious Synonyms

Synonyms

catching, communicable, pestilent, transmissible, transmittable

Antonyms

noncommunicable

Related Words

infectious, infective

Near Antonyms

noninfectious

Other Medicine Terms

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

CONTAGIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

contagious

adjective

Definition of contagious for English Language Learners

: able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching
: having a sickness that can be passed to someone else by touching
: capable of being easily spread to others : causing other people to feel or act a similar way