Need another word for Epidemic? Use these synonyms of Epidemic from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
outbreak
plague
pandemic
scourge
disease
infection
contagion
illness
sickness
affliction
pestilence
endemic
widespread
rampant
prevalent
common
frequent
recurrent
repeated
successive
successive
rash
surge
spike
upsurge
explosion
eruption
flare-up
recrudescence
resurgence
Meaning of Epidemic
The primary meaning of the word "Epidemic" is a widespread occurrence of a disease or illness in a particular community or area.
Definitions
- A widespread occurrence of a disease in a population, especially one that is infectious and spreads quickly
- A sudden, severe, and unusual increase in the occurrence of a particular disease or condition
- A condition or problem that affects a large number of people or things, often in a particular area or community
Etymology of Epidemic
The word "Epidemic" comes from the Greek words "epi" meaning "upon" and "demos" meaning "people", and the suffix "-ic" which forms an adjective, with the resulting word "epidemic" literally meaning "upon the people"
The term has been used in English since the 17th century to describe outbreaks of disease, and its meaning has expanded over time to include other types of widespread problems or conditions
Example Uses
- The city is experiencing a flu epidemic, with thousands of cases reported in the past week
- The epidemic of obesity in the country is a major public health concern
- The company is trying to contain the epidemic of cyber attacks on its computer systems