incidence

noun in·ci·dence \ ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s , -ˌden(t)s \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: incidence in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of incidence

1 a : angle of incidence

b : the arrival of something (such as a projectile or a ray of light) at a surface

2 a : an act or the fact or manner of falling upon or affecting : occurrence

b : rate of occurrence or influence

a high incidence of crime

See incidence defined for English-language learners

See incidence defined for kids

incidence was our Word of the Day on 10/09/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of incidence in a Sentence

an increased incidence of diabetes
a high incidence of criminal behavior

Recent Examples of incidence from the Web

To date, the conventional view has been that the Alzheimer's incidence rate will continue to rise as the Baby Boomers age.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "3 promising new developments in Alzheimer’s and dementia research," 5 June 2018
The cancer society, in coming to a different decision, extended the analyses used by the task force and incorporated recent data on the rising incidence of the disease among younger people.

— author: laurie mcginley, Anchorage Daily News, "Colorectal cancer screening should start at age 45, American Cancer Society says," 30 May 2018
And just this week, researchers reported that the incidence of advanced prostate cancer is rising, a change some critics attribute to the decline in early screening.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "'I got 13 good years.' With prostate cancer in his bones, here's his message for men. | Charlotte Observer," 24 May 2018
These two incidences - on paper - only amount to two goals (4-2 to Liverpool had the correct decisions been made).

— SI.com, "Liverpool's Run to the Final Is a Reminder That the Champions 'League' Is in Fact a Cup Competition," 3 May 2018
Connecticut’s relatively high incidence of acute care hospital inpatient utilization and emergency department visits for Opioids further illustrates overwhelming need for additional residential detoxification services.

— jon lender, courant.com, "Jon Lender: Legislator's Letter Supported Developers He Worked For," 26 May 2018
The organization also has reported a recent increase in the incidence of melanoma: Between 2008 and 2018, the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed annually has increased by 53%.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "Weight-loss surgery is associated with a reduced risk of melanoma, researchers say," 24 May 2018
The application of mulch to soil under plants can reduce incidence of these types of diseases.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to keep insects, weeds and diseases out of your South Louisiana garden," 24 May 2018
Research has shown that sunscreen can reduce the incidence of skin cancer and protect against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

— yvette d'entremont, SELF, "How Much Do You Really Have to Worry About Trying to Prevent Cancer?," 16 May 2018

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

Did You Know?

The words incident, incidence, and instance may seem similar (and, in fact, incident and incidence are closely related), but they are not used identically. In current use, incidence usually means "rate of occurrence" and is often qualified in some way ("a high incidence of diabetes"). Incident usually refers to a particular event, often something unusual or unpleasant ("many such incidents go unreported"). Instance suggests a particular occurrence that is offered as an example ("another instance of bureaucratic bumbling"); it can also be synonymous with case ("many instances in which the wrong form was submitted"). The plural incidences sometimes occurs in such contexts as "several recent incidences of crime," but this use is often criticized as incorrect.

First Known Use of incidence

1626

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

INCIDENCE Defined for English Language Learners

incidence

noun

Definition of incidence for English Language Learners

: the number of times something happens or develops : the rate at which something occurs
: the angle at which a ray (such as a ray of light) hits a surface

Medical Dictionary

incidence

noun in·ci·dence \ ˈin(t)-səd-ən(t)s, -sə-ˌden(t)s \

medical Definition of incidence

1 a : angle of incidence

b : the arrival of something (as a ray of light) at a surface

2 a : an act or the fact or manner of occurring or affecting

diseases of domestic incidence
—Science

b : rate of occurrence or influence; especially : the rate of occurrence of new cases of a particular disease in a population being studied — compare prevalence

Learn More about incidence

Spanish Central: Translation of incidence Nglish: Translation of incidence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of incidence for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up incidence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

incidence

Definition of incidence

incidence was our Word of the Day on 10/09/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of incidence in a Sentence

Recent Examples of incidence from the Web

Did You Know?

First Known Use of incidence

INCIDENCE Defined for English Language Learners

incidence

Definition of incidence for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

incidence

medical Definition of incidence

Learn More about incidence

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

voracity

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

If the Shoe Fits

On the Disruption of 'Disrupt'

'Than': What Follows It and Why

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Name More Food!

Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

True or False?

Syn City

If the Shoe Fits

On the Disruption of 'Disrupt'

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Name More Food!

Ghost Word

incidence

Definition of incidence

incidence was our Word of the Day on 10/09/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of incidence in a Sentence

Recent Examples of incidence from the Web

Did You Know?

First Known Use of incidence

INCIDENCE Defined for English Language Learners

incidence

Definition of incidence for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

incidence

medical Definition of incidence

Learn More about incidence

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

If the Shoe Fits

On the Disruption of 'Disrupt'

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Name More Food!

Ghost Word