noun
C2
Proficient
contagion
kuhn-TAYD-zhuhn
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.”
noun
1
A disease that spreads by contact, or the process of it spreading.
"Health officials worked quickly to stop the contagion from spreading."
2
The spread of an idea, behavior, or crisis through a group, as if it were a disease.
"Fear of financial contagion spread quickly across global markets."
How to use contagion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spreading disease, or by extension, anything (fear, panic, a crisis) that spreads the same way.
Common pairings
spread of contagion
financial contagion
contain the contagion
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Word forms
- Plural
- contagions
Fill the gap
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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
View more →Related words
Rhymes for contagion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all 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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