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

In its annual worldwide threat assessment, the U.S. intelligence community ranked vulnerability to a large-scale outbreak of contagious disease among the top threats facing the country. —Lisa Monaco, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2020

In June, North Carolina passed a mask restriction, which allows people to wear medical or surgical-grade masks in public to prevent spreading contagious disease, but law enforcement and property owners can ask people to remove those masks to verify their identity. —Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024

Keeping vaccinations up-to-date helps protect individuals and communities from contagious diseases, reducing the spread of infections and potential outbreaks. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 4 Aug. 2024

Climate change exacerbates chronic and contagious disease, worsens food and water shortages, increases the risk of pandemics, and aggravates mass displacement. —Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

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.