What does epidemic mean?
Definitions for epidemic
epi·dem·ic
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word epidemic.
Princeton's WordNet
epidemicadjective
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
epidemicadjective
(especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously
"an epidemic outbreak of influenza"
Wiktionary
epidemicnoun
A widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.
epidemicnoun
An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period.
epidemicadjective
Like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread
Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent's reelection.
Etymology: From épidémique, from épidémie, from epidemia, from ἐπιδήμιος, from ἐπί + δῆμος.
Wikipedia
Epidemic
An epidemic (from Greek ἐπί epi "upon or above" and δῆμος demos "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time. For example, in meningococcal infections, an attack rate in excess of 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic.Epidemics of infectious disease are generally caused by several factors including a change in the ecology of the host population (e.g. increased stress or increase in the density of a vector species), a genetic change in the pathogen reservoir or the introduction of an emerging pathogen to a host population (by movement of pathogen or host). Generally, an epidemic occurs when host immunity to either an established pathogen or newly emerging novel pathogen is suddenly reduced below that found in the endemic equilibrium and the transmission threshold is exceeded.An epidemic may be restricted to one location; however, if it spreads to other countries or continents and affects a substantial number of people, it may be termed a pandemic. The declaration of an epidemic usually requires a good understanding of a baseline rate of incidence; epidemics for certain diseases, such as influenza, are defined as reaching some defined increase in incidence above this baseline. A few cases of a very rare disease may be classified as an epidemic, while many cases of a common disease (such as the common cold) would not.
ChatGPT
epidemic
An epidemic is a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease or health-related issue in a community or a specific geographic area at a particular time. It refers to a significant surge in disease cases that exceeds the expected or normal levels within that population or area. Epidemics can be confined to one location, however, if they spread to other countries or continents and affect a substantial number of people, they can become a pandemic.
Webster Dictionary
Epidemicadjective
alt. of Epidemical
Epidemicnoun
an epidemic disease
Epidemicnoun
anything which takes possession of the minds of people as an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of terror
Etymology: [Cf. Epidemy.]
Wikidata
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience. Epidemiologists often consider the term outbreak to be synonymous to epidemic, but the general public typically perceives outbreaks to be more local and less serious than epidemics. Epidemics of infectious disease are generally caused by a change in the ecology of the host population, a genetic change in the parasite population or the introduction of a new parasite to a host population. Generally, an epidemic occurs when host immunity to a parasite population is suddenly reduced below that found in the endemic equilibrium and the transmission threshold is exceeded. An epidemic may be restricted to one location; however, if it spreads to other countries or continents and affects a substantial number of people, it may be termed a pandemic. The declaration of an epidemic usually requires a good understanding of a baseline rate of incidence; epidemics for certain diseases, such as influenza, are defined as reaching some defined increase in incidence above this baseline. A few cases of a very rare disease may be classified as an epidemic, while many cases of a common disease would not.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Epidemic
-al, ep-i-dem′ik, -al, adj. affecting a community at a certain time: general.—n. Epidem′ic, a disease falling on great numbers in one place, simultaneously or in succession.—adv. Epidem′ically.—n. Epidemiol′ogy, the science of epidemics. [Gr. epidēmos, general—epi, among, dēmos, the people.]
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Epidemic
a name given to contagious diseases which, arising suddenly in a community, rapidly spread through its members, often travelling from district to district, until often a whole country is affected; the theory of the transmission of disease by microbes has largely explained the spread of such scourges, but the part which atmospheric and other physical, and perhaps psychic, causes play in these disorders is still matter of debate, especially as regards epidemic mental diseases. See Endemic.
Suggested Resources
epidemic
Song lyrics by epidemic -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by epidemic on the Lyrics.com website.
Epidemic
Endemic vs. Epidemic -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Endemic and Epidemic.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Anagrams for epidemic »
midpiece
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of epidemic in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of epidemic in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of epidemic in a Sentence
It's not like we will see an epidemic, but certainly there are companies facing serious headwinds because of the real's sharp drop.
The eight biggest pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies last year profited $72 billion on the backs of people like the families that we are talking about that have been overwhelmed by this crisis, which is a public health epidemic, and they knew what they were doing.
There is no need to open the door at the peak of the global epidemic.
We have worked hard to build a condom culture over the last 30 years and we have undone a lot of that, the best way to prevent the spread of HIV is the use of condoms. This new generation didn't live through the worst of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and '90s.
Even though we are in a good place right now, we are not out of the epidemic. And the government will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic again threatens important functions in our society.
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References
Translations for epidemic
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- epidemieAfrikaans
- وباءArabic
- epidemie, epidemickýCzech
- epidemiDanish
- Epidemie, Seuche, epidemischGerman
- επιδημικός, επιδημίαGreek
- epidemiaEsperanto
- epidémico, epidemiaSpanish
- اپیدمیPersian
- kulkutaudinomainen, kulkutauti, epideeminen, epidemiaFinnish
- épidémie, épidémiqueFrench
- eipidéimeach, eipidéimIrish
- महामारीHindi
- járványos, járványHungarian
- faraldur, farsóttIcelandic
- epidemicoItalian
- 流行性, エピデミック, 伝染病, 疫病Japanese
- urutāMāori
- epidemisk, farsott, epidemiNorwegian
- epidemie, epidemischDutch
- epidemisk, epidemiNorwegian Nynorsk
- naałniihNavajo, Navaho
- epidemia, epidemicznyPolish
- epidêmico, epidemiaPortuguese
- epidemic, epidemie, epidemiiRomanian
- эпидемияRussian
- rednja, пошаст, епидемија, epidèmījskī, epidemija, pošastSerbo-Croatian
- sewaSouthern Sotho
- farsot, epidemiSwedish
- salotTagalog
- bệnh dịchVietnamese
Get even more translations for epidemic »
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"epidemic." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/epidemic>.
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