-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
infectious disease
noun
: a disease (such as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
Examples of infectious disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Using wastewater or sewage, the CDC tests the water to see if there are any traces of an infectious disease within a community, the government agency says.
—
Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2024
Maybe not for this wave, immunologists and infectious disease experts said.
—
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Aug. 2024
The infectious disease is caused by the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of California.
—
Bruce Haring, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2024
Medical schools often no longer mandate parasitology classes, with such courses falling into small concentrations like tropical medicine or infectious disease.
—
Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for infectious disease ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-09-05--19-59-30-rvhre/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infectious disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1600, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of infectious disease was
in 1600
Dictionary Entries Near infectious disease
Cite this Entry
“Infectious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectious%20disease. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease caused by the presence, growth, and increase in numbers of germs in the body
Medical Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease (as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share