Word of the Day

: January 2, 2014

endemic

adjective en-DEM-ik

What It Means

1 : characteristic of or prevalent in a particular field, area, or environment

2 : restricted or peculiar to a locality or region

endemic in Context

A recent report identifies the country as a "failed state," citing endemic corruption at all levels of government.

"Aucoin's research focuses on the development of rapid diagnostics as a resource to countries where disease is endemic and expanding." - From an article in the Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada), December 3, 2013

Did You Know?

If you translate it literally, "endemic" means "in the population." It derives from the Greek "endēmos," which joins "en," meaning "in," and "dēmos," meaning "people" or "populace." "Endemic" is often used to characterize diseases that are generally found in a particular area; malaria, for example, is said to be endemic to tropical and subtropical regions. This use differs from that of the related word "epidemic" in that it indicates a more or less constant presence in a particular population or area rather than a sudden, severe outbreak within that region or group. The word is also used by biologists to characterize the plant and animal species that are only found in a given area.