# covid

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

## Senses

### 2. the pandemic period

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the time during the global pandemic when people had to stay home and wear masks.

For teachers: a metonymic use referring to the period of the global pandemic and its associated social disruptions.

- Many people started working from home during covid and never went back to the office.
- The hospitality industry faced unprecedented challenges during covid, with many small businesses forced to close permanently due to the lockdowns.

## Examples

- He stayed home because he had covid.
- Many businesses changed their remote work policies after the first wave of covid hit the city.
- Public health officials monitored the wastewater data to predict whether a new variant of covid would cause a significant spike in hospital admissions during the winter months.

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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.
