noun
Common
epidemic
eh-pih-DEH-mihk
Epidemic (noun) means an outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once. Example: “The city imposed travel restrictions to slow the epidemic.”
noun
1
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."
"Doctors worked day and night during the flu epidemic."
"Schools closed early as the epidemic spread through the region."
2
A sudden, widespread increase in something harmful or undesirable.
"Officials described the rise in overdoses as an epidemic."
"Littering has become an epidemic in our town centre."
"Teachers warn of an epidemic of phone addiction among teenagers."
adjective
1
Spreading quickly and widely, especially something harmful.
"Fraud has reached epidemic levels in the industry."
"The rumour spread at epidemic speed through the school."
"Staff shortages are now epidemic in many hospitals."
How to use epidemic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA disease (or problem) that spreads fast through a large group of people.
Common mistake
An epidemic is typically confined to one region or country; a pandemic has spread across multiple countries or continents.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flu epidemic
epidemic levels
a growing epidemic
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Word forms
- Plural
- epidemics
- Comparative
- more epidemic
- Superlative
- most epidemic
Fill the gap
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The city imposed travel restrictions to slow the _____.
Etymology
From Greek epidemios, "among the people," from epi- ("upon") plus demos ("people").
Related words
Rhymes for epidemic
See all rhymes for 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.
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