plague
Plague (noun) means a deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague. Example: “The plague killed millions across Europe in the 14th century.”
How to use plague
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deadly epidemic disease, or more loosely, a persistent serious problem that keeps causing trouble.
Word forms
plagued past tense, plagues plural, plagues singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ killed millions across Europe in the 14th century.
Etymology
From Latin plaga, "blow, wound," related to a verb meaning "to strike."
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.