# pestilence

/ˈpɛstəɫəns/ (US) · /pˈɛstɪləns/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pestilence
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a very serious and deadly disease that spreads quickly through a large area. It is an old-fashioned word often used in stories or history books.

For teachers: a highly infectious and deadly disease that spreads rapidly through a population. Often used in historical or literary contexts to describe epidemics like the plague.

## Examples

- The village was saved from a terrible pestilence by the new medicine.
- Historians often study how medieval societies reacted to the sudden arrival of a deadly pestilence that wiped out entire families.
- The poet used the metaphor of pestilence to describe the rapid spread of misinformation across the internet, comparing digital viruses to the biological ones that once ravaged the countryside.

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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.