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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
Health officials monitor wastewater to detect the levels of infectious disease circulating in a community.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2024
In public health, significant capital is required to address challenges such as infectious disease outbreaks.
—Philanthropy Asia Alliance Contributor, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Good hygiene habits reduce the spread In May 2024, the CDC also released guidance for preventing classroom spread of infectious disease, including COVID-19 and other common infectious diseases such as the flu, norovirus and strep throat.
—Libby Richards, The Conversation, 9 Aug. 2024
Outbreaks of infectious disease have happened among triathletes before, including a leptospirosis outbreak in Illinois in 1998 when a competition was held in Lake Springfield after heavy rainfall.
—John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for infectious disease
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 22 Sep. 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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