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

Johns Hopkins has been at the forefront of responding to global health emergencies, including but not limited to infectious disease outbreaks. —Omer Awan, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025

The report, released by the Santa Fe County animal control agency, stated the partial mummification of the animal could have obscured changes in organs, but there was no evidence of poisoning, infectious disease or trauma that could have led to death. —Janelle Ash, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025

The disease is progressive, and symptoms typically occur in phases, said Dr. Bessey Geevarghese, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Northwestern Medicine. —Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025

The highly infectious disease measles has recently hit at least 200 people in Texas and New Mexico and has resulted in at least one death. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 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