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

Yet, instead of seizing this opportunity, the United States is retreating from its global leadership role in infectious disease control. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

But infectious disease clinician-scientist Dr. Neil Stone welcomed Kennedy's comments. —David Oliver, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser warned the state could lose more than $229 million for public health programs — including immunization distribution and training for local public health agencies focused on infectious disease surveillance. —Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025

Violent crime has been down, air travel is as safe as it’s ever been, mortality from infectious disease largely fell throughout the 20th and 21st centuries (even the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was blunted by the swift development of effective vaccines). —Allie Volpe, Vox, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infectious disease

• idiosyncrasies
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees
• arrestees
• artistes

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