plague
playg
Plague (noun) means a deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague. Example: “Doctors in the old town struggled to stop the plague spreading.”
noun
1
A deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague.
"Doctors in the old town struggled to stop the plague spreading."
"Many villages were left empty after the plague swept through them."
"The plague killed millions across Europe in the 14th century."
2
A widespread, serious problem or nuisance.
"Mosquitoes are a plague in the marshes during warm summer evenings."
"A plague of locusts destroyed the entire harvest."
"Corruption has been a plague on the country's politics for decades."
verb
1
To trouble or afflict someone persistently.
"Computer problems plagued the office for most of last week."
"Injuries have plagued the team all season."
"She was plagued by doubts the night before the exam."
How to use plague
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deadly epidemic disease, or more loosely, a persistent serious problem that keeps causing trouble.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
plague of locusts
plagued by problems
outbreak of plague
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Word forms
- Plural
- plagues
- Third person singular
- plagues
- Past tense
- plagued
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors in the old town struggled to stop the _____ spreading.
Etymology
From Latin plaga, "blow, wound," related to a verb meaning "to strike."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for plague
See all rhymes for plague →Frequently asked questions
What does “plague” mean?
The word “plague” means a deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague. In plain terms, a deadly epidemic disease, or more loosely, a persistent serious problem that keeps causing trouble.
How do you pronounce “plague”?
“Plague” is pronounced playg (/plɛɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “plague” in a sentence?
Here is “plague” used in a sentence: “The plague killed millions across Europe in the 14th century.”
What part of speech is “plague”?
Depending on how it is used, “plague” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “plague” come from?
The word “plague” comes from Latin. From Latin plaga, "blow, wound," related to a verb meaning "to strike.".
Is “plague” a common word?
“Plague” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “plague” have?
“Plague” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague.
What is the difference between a plague and an epidemic?
A plague is a specific deadly, fast-spreading disease—historically the bubonic plague—while an epidemic is any disease that spreads rapidly through a community. A plague can cause an epidemic, but 'epidemic' is the broader term for any widespread outbreak.
What is the difference between 'plague' and 'pandemic'?
'Plague' refers to a particular deadly disease or, figuratively, a widespread problem, while 'pandemic' describes a disease outbreak that spreads across many countries or the whole world. The historic plague caused pandemics, but the two words are not interchangeable.
How is 'plague' used as a verb?
As a verb, 'plague' means to trouble or afflict someone persistently, as in 'doubts plagued him for years.' It suggests ongoing, unwanted trouble rather than a single event.
When is something described as 'a plague'?
Something is figuratively described as 'a plague' when it is a widespread, serious problem or nuisance, as in 'a plague of corruption.' This use draws on the image of a disease spreading uncontrollably.
