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

As readers of this newsletter know, Helen has been a frequent contributor to Morning Rounds over the last 11 years, tirelessly sharing her insights on infectious disease news. — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026

And the risk that more will appear outside Congo will grow if the outbreak isn't tamed, said Justin Lessler, a University of North Carolina researcher who studies the dynamics of infectious disease outbreaks. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Shuford had previously served as Texas’s chief state epidemiologist and an infectious disease medical officer, as well as being an infectious disease physician in private practice. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026

Populations in nature are also regulated by their finite food supplies, and our control over infectious disease would have meant little without enough to eat. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 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