communicable

adjective

com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​ble kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl 

1

: capable of being communicated : transmittable

communicable diseases

a communicable skin rash

see also communicable disease

2

: communicative

prove myself a gentleman, by being … virtuous and communicable

—Izaac Walton

communicability

kə-ˌmyü-ni-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

communicableness

kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl-nəs 

noun

communicably

kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• catching
• contagious
• pestilent
• transmissible
• transmittable

Examples of communicable in a Sentence

communicable diseases that are usually transmitted sexually

Recent Examples on the Web

Hanage foresees wastewater analysis being used to track other communicable viruses, like mpox. —Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024

This misconception tends to be due to the rise in influenza and other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months. —Patty Weasler, Rn, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024

During the war in Yemen, for example, Saudi forces have cut off local populations’ access to clean water and sanitation, placing citizens at high risk for communicable illnesses. —Marwa Daoudy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022

And necropsy data taken from dead fish samples so far have not turned up any communicable pathogens and the fish were negative for bacterial infections, according to the FWC. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing communicable

• communicable disease

Kids Definition

communicable

adjective

com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​ble kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl 

: capable of being transferred or carried from one person or thing to another

communicable diseases

communicability

-ˌmyü-ni-kə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

communicable

adjective

com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​ble kə-ˈmyü-ni-kə-bəl 

: capable of being transmitted from person to person, animal to animal, animal to human, or human to animal : transmissible

communicability

-ˌmyü-ni-kə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural communicabilities