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

Remember, the Lord Jesus did not fear lepers, and leprosy was (and continues to be) a highly contagious infectious disease. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2025

The foundation will also continue its efforts to eradicate polio and reduce the impact of malaria–part of a larger foundation effort to reduce the spread of infectious disease. —Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Feral hogs can also carry diseases, such as pseudorabies, a contagious infectious disease that is fatal for dogs, as well as swine brucellosis, a bacterial infection. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

The schedule is developed by infectious disease experts, and a committee of expert advisors to the CDC, a group that Kennedy recently replaced with his own picks including some critical of vaccines. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025

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