epizootic

noun

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epi·zo·ot·ic | \ ˌe-pə-zə-ˈwä-tik

, -zō-ˈä- \

Definition of epizootic

: an outbreak of disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time also : the disease itself

Other Words from epizootic Example Sentences Learn More About epizootic

Examples of epizootic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With Covid keeping us at home, many ecologists are unaware of potentially the most important non-human epizootic occurring since white-nose. — Sophie Lewis, CBS News, 19 May 2020 African swine fever decimated the country’s pig population in 2019 in what lovers of Greek etymology would have insisted was an epizootic—relating to animals—and not an epidemic—relating to people. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2020 Unfortunately an epizootic of African swine fever has recently wiped out at least a third of all the pigs in China. — The Economist, 10 Oct. 2019

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

History and Etymology for epizootic

borrowed from French épizootique "pertaining to a disease affecting many animals at once," coinage modeled on épidemique epidemic entry 1, from Greek epi- epi- + zôion "animal" + French -otique -otic entry 1 — more at zoo-

Note: The Oxford English Dictionary and Trésor de la Langue Française both treat épizootique as a derivative of épizootie, but the noun is attested later and is more likely a back-formation from the adjective, on the model of épidémique : épidémie.