Another Word For Epidemic
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Meaning
The word 'epidemic' refers to a situation where a disease or health condition spreads rapidly and widely within a specific population or region. This can also apply to social issues or trends that become unusually widespread, such as an epidemic of violence or obesity. Essentially, an epidemic denotes an outbreak that affects a large number of people.
Synonyms
- Outbreak
- Pandemic (though this typically refers to a global scale)
- Epidemic disease
- Plague
- Infection
- Contagion
Antonyms
- Cure
- Remedy
- Prevention
- Health
- Safety
- Immunity
Etymology
The word 'epidemic' comes from the Greek word 'epidēmios,' which means 'prevalent,' derived from 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'demos' meaning 'people.' It was first used in English in the late 1600s to describe diseases affecting a population.
Examples of Use
- The flu epidemic last winter resulted in many schools closing to protect students.
- Health officials are concerned about the rising epidemic of obesity among children.
- The community worked together to combat the opioid epidemic through education and support programs.
- In recent years, there has been an epidemic of misinformation spreading through social media.
- The government declared a public health emergency in response to the epidemic.