contagious disease

noun

plural contagious diseases

: an infectious disease (such as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

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

Examples of contagious disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Clemson University reports its first case of measles on campus as the contagious disease has quickly spread through South Carolina. —NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026

The highly contagious disease that can turn deadly or cause lifelong health issues has spilled from Spartanburg County, South Carolina to the Tar Heel state. —Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026

Coverage for key vaccines such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) and polio has dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles. —A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, according to state health officials. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contagious disease

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

Medical Definition

contagious disease

noun

: an infectious disease (as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

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