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

After multiple doctor visits and nearly a month of illness, an infectious disease specialist diagnosed the boy with tularemia. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The infectious disease expert, who retired in 2022, was subpoenaed to testify. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 July 2026

The family sought help from infectious disease specialists at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. — Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Fauci played a key role as the nation's top infectious disease expert throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 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