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 United States and Europe spent years rebuilding infectious disease infrastructure after COVID exposed major weaknesses in surveillance, quarantine capacity, and institutional coordination. —Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

The German physician Paul Ehrlich first came up with the metaphor in the early 20th century, when infectious disease was the leading cause of death worldwide. —Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026

All eyes are on passengers of a cruise ship battling an outbreak of Andes virus, an infectious disease that has so far left three people dead and several others sick. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Alcohol kills nearly 500 Americans every day — more than every infectious disease combined. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 12 May 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