Word
epidemic
Phoneticsepi·dem·ic
US/ˌɛpəˈdɛmɪk/
UK/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
Definitions
01outbreak of disease
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a large number of people in a community catching the same disease at the same time.
n. an outbreak of an infectious disease that spreads rapidly among many individuals in a population at a specific time.
日本語:流行※
“The city took quick action to stop the flu epidemic before schools opened.”
“Public health officials monitored the cholera epidemic closely, implementing strict water sanitation protocols to curb the rising infection rate.”
Usage
Often used with 'of' followed by the name of the disease.
Synonyms
02spread of something bad
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. the sudden and quick spread of something harmful or unwanted, like crime or a bad habit.
n. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon or social problem.
日本語:流行※
“The town is facing an epidemic of car thefts this summer.”
“Sociologists are investigating the current epidemic of loneliness among young adults living in major urban centres.”
Usage
Commonly used in journalism to describe social crises.
03widespread
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing something that is spreading very fast and affecting many people.
adj. relating to or of the nature of an epidemic; extremely prevalent or widespread.
“The problem of fake news has reached epidemic proportions on social media.”
“The corruption within the local government became epidemic, eventually leading to a complete overhaul of the administrative staff.”
Usage
Usually precedes the noun it modifies.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “epidemic” in context.
Verb
01. contain the epidemic
“Public health officials worked tirelessly to contain the epidemic before it reached the capital.”
verb + noun
02. halt the epidemic
“Strict quarantine measures were implemented to halt the epidemic in its tracks.”
verb + noun
03. trigger an epidemic
“Poor sanitation in the refugee camps could easily trigger a cholera epidemic.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. silent epidemic
“Depression has become a silent epidemic among teenagers in the digital age.”
adj + noun
05. widespread epidemic
“The country is facing a widespread epidemic of obesity that threatens the healthcare system.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. epidemic proportions
“The use of synthetic drugs has reached epidemic proportions in many rural communities.”
noun + noun
07. outbreak of an epidemic
“The sudden outbreak of an epidemic caused widespread panic throughout the province.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. at the height of the epidemic
“At the height of the epidemic, schools and businesses were forced to close indefinitely.”
prep + noun + prep
09. epidemic in the country's
Real-World Examples
“The loneliness epidemic, compounded by the era of constant digital distraction and social comparison, is a serious public health risk.” “Just three months into this Ebola emergency, the death toll is already close to the total number of people killed in the 2018 to 2020 epidemic, which saw fewer overall cases.” “The Ebola epidemic, centred on the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 625 people with 1,792 laboratory confirmed cases.” “Janabi recently spent three days in Bunia, capital of Ituri province – his fifth visit since the epidemic was declared there on 15 May.” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/epidemic
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0