pandemic
pandemic Lexical Profile
pandemic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An outbreak of an infectious disease that spreads across a large geographical region, such as multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people.
"The global pandemic transformed how millions of people work, study, and communicate."
• adjective
(Of a disease) prevalent over a whole country, continent, or the entire world.
"Public health officials monitored the mutated virus closely to prevent a pandemic outbreak."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike an 'epidemic', which is a sudden outbreak of disease confined to a specific community or region, a 'pandemic' spreads across multiple countries or continents, affecting a vast global population. Saying 'global pandemic' is technically redundant, though common in everyday usage for emphasis.
• Rhymes for pandemic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Late Latin 'pandemus', from Ancient Greek 'pandemos' (pertaining to all the people), combining 'pan' (all) and 'demos' (the people).