epidemic
noun /ˌepɪˈdemɪk/
/ˌepɪˈdemɪk/
- a large number of cases of a particular disease or medical condition happening at the same time in a particular community
- the outbreak of a flu epidemic
- An epidemic of measles broke out, and over 200 children died.
- Effectively, tobacco companies will be exporting an epidemic of smoking-related diseases, the campaign suggests.
Wordfinder- bacteria
- disease
- epidemic
- fever
- illness
- immunity
- infection
- spread
- vaccinate
- virus
Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessc1- Over fifty people died during the flu epidemic last winter.
- The worst flu epidemic for 14 years is sweeping the country.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- global
- national
- …
- become
- combat
- fight
- …
- break out
- occur
- strike (something)
- …
- during an/the epidemic
- in an/the epidemic
- epidemic of
- …
- reach epidemic proportions
- a sudden rapid increase in how often something bad happens
- A recent report describes an epidemic of crime in the inner cities.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- global
- national
- …
- become
- combat
- fight
- …
- break out
- occur
- strike (something)
- …
- during an/the epidemic
- in an/the epidemic
- epidemic of
- …
- reach epidemic proportions
Word Originearly 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French épidémique, from épidémie, via late Latin from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease’, from epidēmios ‘prevalent’, from epi ‘upon’ + dēmos ‘the people’.