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 group of eight people is made up of epidemiologists, infectious disease and vaccine experts from countries in the Americas. — Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2026

If that doesn’t happen, Jacobs warns that there could be more infectious disease outbreaks on the horizon. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2026

The highly-infectious disease has been spreading at an increasing pace as vaccination rates have fallen, eroding the herd immunity that suppresses outbreaks and protects those who can’t be immunized. — Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2026

The zoonotic infectious disease is caused by spore-forming bacteria found naturally in soil in most parts of the world, which can remain dormant for long periods, according to the World Health Organization. — Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 5 Nov. 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