contact trace

verb

contact traced; contact tracing; contact traces

intransitive verb

: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
How well a college contact traces, places infected students in isolation, disseminates a steady stream of messaging to students about following safety practices and punishes offenders all have an impact on how much the virus spreads, [Gonzalo] Bearman said.Eric Kolenich
Campbell County Public Health … also contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore
Yet the only way we'll all win is if we'll do everything possible between now and then—wear a mask, wash our hands, socially distance, contact trace—to put this coronavirus permanently in our rearview mirror in order to return to our old normal every hour of every day.Mark Wiedmer

transitive verb

: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
"Our school has done the best they can to keep us all as safe as possible, but I just happened to be in an unfortunate situation and ended being contact traced. I am choosing to focus on all of the positive experiences I had this season and the great memories I made with my team."Alexi Fogo

Examples of contact trace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Regardless of the city or state, the new normal at live-music events could very well include requiring each attendee to register for contact tracing and to undergo temperature checks before being admitted. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025 There were Zoom meetings, social distancing and devices that monitored their movements in conjunction with others for contact tracing. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025 Kane County received just over $100 million in total, and used the money over the past few years on COVID-19 contact tracing, grants for area nonprofit organizations, public safety projects, payroll reimbursements and infrastructure projects and expenses. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025 After completing contact tracing, Duszynski said officials reported five more measles cases that stem from the initial case. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contact trace

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of contact trace was in 1987

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contact trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact%20trace. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

contact trace

verb

intransitive verb

: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
Campbell County Public Health … contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore, The Billings (Montana) Gazette

transitive verb

: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
When a first major outbreak hit Grand Forks, North Dakota, in April, the problem was clear: More than 150 employees of a wind turbine blade factory were infected. The factory shut its doors for several weeks, and public health officials tested and contact traced each case.Sarah Mervosh and Lucy Tompkins, The Houston Chronicle
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