infectious disease

noun

: a disease (such as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease

Examples of infectious disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Military Health System and its extensive research enterprise have produced innovations that transformed civilian medicine, from trauma care to infectious disease prevention. — David Shulkin, STAT, 29 July 2026

Quarantines, lockdowns, and the fear of catching or spreading this infectious disease only served to increase social isolation and loneliness. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

During the three-hour hearing, the government’s former top infectious disease expert repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

Before Wednesday’s Senate hearing, where Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul—who has questioned the infectious disease expert about the origins of COVID-19—released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci’s private writings. — Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infectious disease

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

Kids Definition

infectious disease

noun

: a disease caused by the presence, growth, and increase in numbers of germs in the body

Medical Definition

infectious disease

noun

: a disease (as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease