epidemic
The definition of an epidemic is an outbreak of disease that occurs on a ground scale or a community-wide level.
(noun)An example of an epidemic is the AIDs virus during the 1980's.
See epidemic in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
Origin: Fr épidémique < MFr < ML epidemicus < epidemia < Gr epidēmia < epidēmios, among the people, general < epi-, epi- + dēmos, people: see democracy
noun
- an epidemic disease
- the rapid spreading of such a disease
- a rapid, widespread occurrence or growth
Related Forms:
- epidemically adverb
See epidemic in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective
- Spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and affecting many individuals in an area or a population at the same time: an epidemic outbreak of influenza.
- Widely prevalent: epidemic discontent.
- An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.
- A rapid spread, growth, or development: an unemployment epidemic.
Origin:
Origin: French épidémique
Origin: , from épidémie, an epidemic
Origin: , from Old French espydymie
Origin: , from Medieval Latin epidēmia
Origin: , from Greek epidēmiā, prevalence of an epidemic disease
Origin: , from epidēmos, prevalent
Origin: : epi-, epi-
Origin: + dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- epˌi·demˈi·cal·ly adverb
Learn more about epidemic
