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

As of this month, the highly contagious disease has infected nearly 175 million birds nationally, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. —Esther Sun, Mercury News, 10 July 2025

On Wednesday, state officials announced the first measles death in Texas' ongoing outbreak of the highly contagious disease. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

That threshold stifles the risk of an outbreak of a highly contagious disease like measles because almost everyone has immunity. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Miami has detected another case of measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, as the country nears record levels of infection. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 16 June 2025

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.