# contagion

/kənˈteɪdʒən/ (US) · /kəntˈeɪdʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contagion
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. spread of ideas or feelings

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the way that a feeling, an idea, or a way of behaving spreads quickly to other people.

For teachers: the rapid transmission of an emotional state, attitude, or social behaviour through a population. Frequently used in sociological contexts to describe collective behaviour.

- There was a contagion of fear throughout the crowd as the sirens grew louder.
- Social media platforms can facilitate a rapid contagion of misinformation, making it difficult for authorities to provide accurate updates during a crisis.

### 3. financial crisis spread

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

the way that a financial problem in one country or market quickly spreads to others.

For teachers: the transmission of a financial shock or economic crisis from one market or region to others. Usually implies a systemic failure where local shocks trigger global instability.

- Economists worried that the bank's failure would cause a contagion across the whole region.
- Market analysts monitored the situation closely, fearing that the sovereign debt default in one nation would trigger a regional financial contagion.

## Examples

- The government took strict measures to stop the contagion.
- Economists feared that the banking crisis in one country would lead to a regional contagion, affecting neighboring stock markets.
- While the biological contagion was contained through quarantine, the psychological contagion of fear proved much harder to manage, leading to widespread panic and the eventual collapse of local commerce.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.