Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

epidemic

noun

/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/

Definition

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

Examples

The flu epidemic last winter caused many schools to close.
Health officials warned that diabetes is becoming an epidemic in many countries.
After the epidemic of measles, vaccination rates increased significantly.

Meaning

The term ‘epidemic’ refers to the rapid spread of an infectious disease among people, significantly affecting a large number of individuals within a specific area or community.