noun
contagiousness
kuhn-TAY-juhs-nis
Contagiousness (noun) means the quality of being contagious, meaning easily passed from one person or thing to another. Example: “Scientists studied the contagiousness of the new virus strain.”
noun
1
The quality of being contagious, meaning easily passed from one person or thing to another.
"Scientists studied the contagiousness of the new virus strain."
"The contagiousness of her laughter soon had the whole room smiling."
"Health officials warned about the high contagiousness of the outbreak."
How to use contagiousness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow easily something spreads from person to person.
When to use it
It sits in fairly formal or scientific writing more often than in casual speech.
Memory tip
Do not confuse it with contiguousness, which is about things touching or being next to each other, not spreading.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
contiguousness
Common pairings
high contagiousness
measure contagiousness
the contagiousness of a disease
reduce contagiousness
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Fill the gap
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Scientists studied the _____ of the new virus strain.
Etymology
The word is built from the adjective contagious with the suffix -ness added to turn it into a noun describing that quality.
Synonyms
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contagiosity
Rhymes for contagiousness
See all rhymes for contagiousness →Frequently asked questions
What does contagiousness mean?
It refers to how easily something, such as a disease or an emotion, spreads from one person or thing to another.
Is contagiousness only used for diseases?
No, it can also describe non-medical things that spread easily, such as enthusiasm or laughter.
What is a synonym for contagiousness?
Contagiosity is used with a similar meaning.
What is the meaning of contagiousness?
"contagiousness" (noun) means the quality of being contagious, meaning easily passed from one person or thing to another.
