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

Measles cases spread across U.S. The rise in measles cases in Kansas comes as the highly contagious disease spreads across the United States. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases worldwide, per the CDC. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025

Measles is among the most contagious diseases and can be dangerous. —Patricia Callahan, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025

In an emotional video interview with the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense published earlier this week, the Mennonite husband and wife outlined how their five children — all unvaccinated — contracted the highly contagious disease. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 21 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.