noun

pestilence

PEHS-tuh-luhns

noun

A deadly, widespread disease; a plague.

"The city was ravaged by famine and pestilence."

How to Use Pestilence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, literary word for a deadly epidemic.

When to use it

Mostly literary or historical in tone — rarely used in everyday speech.

pestilences plural

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The city was ravaged by famine and _____.

From Old French, ultimately from Latin pestilentia ("plague"), from pestilens ("infected, unwholesome").

hence fence Pence whence thence Spence absence science silence defence essence Terence