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

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2025

As measles cases continue to crop up across the U.S., so too are cases of another highly contagious disease. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025

At least one dead raccoon from Monte Vista and two raccoon carcasses from Alamosa tested positive for the deadly, contagious disease, the state agency said in a news release. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025

The measles outbreak continues to grow, with 370 cases in Texas and New Mexico, as parents resist vaccination for the highly contagious diseases. —Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 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.