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
But during the pandemic, more people thought about infectious disease.
—
Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
However, going to bed with wet hair shouldn’t lead to any other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, said Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo.
—Korin Miller, Health, 7 Mar. 2024
Another of the burials included remains in clothes instead of the typical Catholic shroud, indicating that the person likely died of an infectious disease.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
In the absence of a cease-fire, some 58,000 additional deaths would be expected in Gaza over the next six months, according to a February research study, most of them due to traumatic injuries and infectious disease.
—Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Hand contact with the mouth, nose and eyes—sometimes called the facial T-zone by infectious disease researchers—is the riskiest kind of face touching.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Duties include providing extensive guidance to staff, advising department heads and represent the agency on infectious disease prevention.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Measles is a highly infectious disease, says Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024
The rise in norovirus cases aren’t completely out of the ordinary, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor and doctor specializing in infectious disease at UC San Francisco.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2024
Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
However, going to bed with wet hair shouldn’t lead to any other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, said Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo.
—Korin Miller, Health, 7 Mar. 2024
Another of the burials included remains in clothes instead of the typical Catholic shroud, indicating that the person likely died of an infectious disease.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
In the absence of a cease-fire, some 58,000 additional deaths would be expected in Gaza over the next six months, according to a February research study, most of them due to traumatic injuries and infectious disease.
—Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Hand contact with the mouth, nose and eyes—sometimes called the facial T-zone by infectious disease researchers—is the riskiest kind of face touching.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Duties include providing extensive guidance to staff, advising department heads and represent the agency on infectious disease prevention.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Measles is a highly infectious disease, says Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024
The rise in norovirus cases aren’t completely out of the ordinary, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor and doctor specializing in infectious disease at UC San Francisco.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infectious disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1600, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of infectious disease was
in 1600
Dictionary Entries Near infectious disease
Cite this Entry
“Infectious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectious%20disease. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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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
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