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infectious disease
noun
: a disease (such as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
Examples of infectious disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, the White House recently issued a Global Health Security Strategy that allegedly aims to enhance prevention and response to infectious disease threats worldwide.
—Cynthia M. Ho, STAT, 28 Apr. 2024
The animals are threatened by deforestation, climate change and infectious disease.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Health officials encouraged anyone who was at one of the exposure locations on those days to confirm they’ve been vaccinated against measles, a highly infectious disease that causes a rash and other serious symptoms that may become life-threatening for certain people.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Sign up for Outbreaks Near Me and help medical researchers track infectious disease and save lives.
—Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
But every practitioner should at least be aware of the possibility of MBP abuse because victims often toggle among many different specialists, such as gastroenterologists, pediatric neurologists, and infectious disease physicians, Gavril says.
—Sarah Klein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
But during the pandemic, more people thought about infectious disease.
—Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
However, going to bed with wet hair shouldn’t lead to any other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, said Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo.
—Korin Miller, Health, 7 Mar. 2024
Another of the burials included remains in clothes instead of the typical Catholic shroud, indicating that the person likely died of an infectious disease.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infectious disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1600, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of infectious disease was
in 1600
Dictionary Entries Near infectious disease
Cite this Entry
“Infectious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectious%20disease. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease caused by the presence, growth, and increase in numbers of germs in the body
Medical Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease (as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
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