epidemic

Definition

• n. a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
• adj. (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously

Word forms

Plural

epidemics

Example sentences

1. n.

   The flu outbreak was declared an epidemic by health authorities.

2. a.

   The new virus is highly epidemic and spreads quickly among people.