contagion
Contagion (noun) means a disease that spreads by contact, or the process of it spreading. Example: “Health officials worked quickly to stop the contagion from spreading.”
How to use contagion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spreading disease, or by extension, anything (fear, panic, a crisis) that spreads the same way.
Word forms
contagions plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Health officials worked quickly to stop the _____ from spreading.
Etymology
From Old French, from Latin contagio, "a touching, contagion," related to contingere ("to touch closely").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for contagion
Frequently asked questions
What does “contagion” mean?
The word “contagion” means a disease that spreads by contact, or the process of it spreading. In plain terms, a spreading disease, or by extension, anything (fear, panic, a crisis) that spreads the same way.
How do you pronounce “contagion”?
“Contagion” is pronounced kuhn-TAYD-zhuhn (/kənˈteɪd͡ʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “contagion” in a sentence?
Here is “contagion” used in a sentence: “Health officials worked quickly to stop the contagion from spreading.”
What part of speech is “contagion”?
“Contagion” is a noun.
Where does the word “contagion” come from?
The word “contagion” comes from Latin. From Old French, from Latin contagio, "a touching, contagion," related to contingere ("to touch closely").
How many meanings does “contagion” have?
“Contagion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a disease that spreads by contact, or the process of it spreading.
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