Added 9 October 2026
epidemic
/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/ noun
In Latin: luēs, epidēmia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about epidemic at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A widespread disease that affects many humans in a population.
- An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a human population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period; an episode of outbreak and subsequent high prevalence.
- A heightened occurrence of anything harmful.
adjective
- Of, related to, or being an epidemic: a widespread outbreak of disease in humans.
-
Like an epidemic: widespread in a bad way.
Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent’s reelection.
Origin
From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, reanalysis of plural Late Latin epidēmia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidḗmios), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”). By surface analysis, epi- (“on”) + demic (“of the people”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)