What does "contagious" mean?

1. (medical spreading) describes a disease that you can catch by being near or touching an infected person. 2. (spreading emotions) describes a feeling, like a laugh or a yawn, that quickly spreads to other people.

Is it correct to say "He is contagious of the flu."?

No — say "He is contagious with the flu.". Use 'with' to specify the illness, or simply say 'he is contagious' to mean he can spread it.

contagious

adj.

US //kənˈteɪdʒəs// UK //kəntˈeɪdʒəs// con·ta·gious

1 medical spreading (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

describes a disease that you can catch by being near or touching an infected person.

capable of being transmitted by infection or direct contact. Often used to describe the disease itself or the person carrying it.

Example

The doctor said he is still contagious, so he should stay home from school.

Example

Public health officials warned that the new strain of the virus is highly contagious, requiring stricter quarantine measures for those exposed.
- infectious
- communicable
- transmissible
- non contagious
- harmless
Pitfall

He is contagious of the flu.

He is contagious with the flu.

Use 'with' to specify the illness, or simply say 'he is contagious' to mean he can spread it.
2 spreading emotions (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes a feeling, like a laugh or a yawn, that quickly spreads to other people.

tending to spread from person to person through social contact or imitation; used figuratively for emotions, moods, or behaviours.

Example

Her laughter was contagious, and soon the whole room was giggling.

Example

The captain's sense of calm proved contagious, steadying the nerves of the younger players as they entered the final minutes of the match.

Origin

From Old French contagieus, from Late Latin contagiosus, from contagio.

Word family

Nouncontagion
Adjectivecontagious