contagious disease

noun

plural contagious diseases

: an infectious disease (such as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Note: The terms contagious disease and communicable disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases such as malaria or schistosomiasis that are spread by contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes or ticks) are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.

Examples of contagious disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As measles cases continue to spread in several U.S. states, the spotlight is on prevention of the highly contagious disease. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025

And vaccination is the only surefire way to slow the spread of the wildly contagious disease. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025

Instead, officials and experts have stressed the importance of vaccines, which are safe and highly effective, to stop the spread of the highly contagious disease. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025

The highly contagious disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 following an effective and strong vaccination program. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contagious disease

• idiosyncrasies
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees
• arrestees
• artistes

Medical Definition

contagious disease

noun

: an infectious disease (as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Note: The terms contagious disease and communicable disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases (as malaria or schistosomiasis) that are spread by contact with disease vectors (as mosquitoes or ticks) are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.