epidemic
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for epidemic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
An outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once.
“The city imposed travel restrictions to slow the epidemic.”
How to use epidemic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
flu epidemic
epidemic levels
a growing epidemic
Etymology
From Greek epidemios, "among the people," from epi- ("upon") plus demos ("people").
Full origin of epidemic →Frequently asked questions
What does “epidemic” mean?
The word “epidemic” means an outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once. In plain terms, a disease (or problem) that spreads fast through a large group of people.
How do you pronounce “epidemic”?
“Epidemic” is pronounced eh-pih-DEH-mihk (/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “epidemic” in a sentence?
Here is “epidemic” used in a sentence: “The city imposed travel restrictions to slow the epidemic.”
What part of speech is “epidemic”?
Depending on how it is used, “epidemic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “epidemic” come from?
The word “epidemic” comes from Greek. From Greek epidemios, "among the people," from epi- ("upon") plus demos ("people").
Is “epidemic” a common word?
“Epidemic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “epidemic” have?
“Epidemic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once.
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
An epidemic is an outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people within a particular population or region at once. A pandemic is generally understood as an epidemic that has spread across multiple countries or continents. Every pandemic starts as an epidemic, but not every epidemic becomes a pandemic.
Can "epidemic" refer to something other than disease?
Yes, epidemic can describe any sudden, widespread increase in something harmful or undesirable, even outside a medical context, such as "an epidemic of car theft." This figurative use keeps the core idea of rapid, widespread spread while applying it to social or behavioral problems.
How is "epidemic" used as an adjective?
As an adjective, epidemic describes something spreading quickly and widely, especially when it is harmful, as in "epidemic levels of debt." This usage emphasizes the rapid, widespread nature of a problem rather than naming it as a noun.
