Meaning & use
epidemic
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease affecting many people in a community at the same time.
See it in a sentence
Health officials declared an epidemic after the virus spread rapidly across the city.
The opioid epidemic has strained hospitals and emergency services throughout the region.
A note on using this word
Epidemic is often used figuratively for any rapidly spreading problem, such as an 'epidemic of misinformation.'
Words with a similar meaning
outbreak
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Spreading rapidly and extensively among a population, especially a disease.
Cases of the flu reached epidemic proportions by the middle of winter.
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