contagious
contagious Lexical Profile
contagious Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Capable of being transmitted from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact (of a disease or pathogen); carrying or capable of spreading a transmissible illness (of a person or animal).
"Patients with chickenpox remain contagious until all the blisters have formed scabs."
Likely to spread rapidly to and affect others (of an emotion, attitude, or behavior).
"Her enthusiasm for the community garden project proved contagious, inspiring dozens of neighbors to volunteer."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict medical usage, 'contagious' refers specifically to diseases transmitted by direct or indirect contact between people, whereas 'infectious' refers more broadly to diseases caused by pathogens regardless of whether they spread from person to person (such as malaria or tetanus).
• Rhymes for contagious
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French contagieux or directly from Late Latin contagiosus, derived from Latin contagio ('a touching, contact, contagion'), from com- ('with, together') and the base of tangere ('to touch').