adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/
Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛmɪk
CMU ARPABET:EH2 P AH0 D EH1 M IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:EH2 P IH0 D EH1 M IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, related to, or being an epidemic: a widespread outbreak of disease in humans.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Like an epidemic: widespread in a bad way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent’s reelection.
A widespread disease that affects many humans in a population.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a human population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period; an episode of outbreak and subsequent high prevalence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: epidemiology, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A heightened occurrence of anything harmful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The spreading of an idea or belief amongst a population.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
(especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an epidemic outbreak of influenza
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: ecdemic, endemic
8
noun
Meaning 8
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: outbreak, eruption, irruption
Narrower terms: pandemic
History
Etymology
From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, reanalysis of plural Late Latin epidēmia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidḗmios), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”). By surface analysis, epi- (“on”) + demic (“of the people”).
Across languages
Translations
181 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
эпідэмі́чны
(epidemíčny)
— like an epidemic
Catalan:
epidèmic
— like an epidemic
Czech:
epidemický
— like an epidemic
Danish:
epidemisk
— like an epidemic
Dutch:
epidemisch
— like an epidemic
Esperanto:
epidemia
— like an epidemic
Finnish:
epideeminen
— like an epidemic
Finnish:
kulkutaudinomainen
— like an epidemic
French:
épidémique
— like an epidemic
German:
epidemisch
— like an epidemic
Greek:
επιδημικός
(epidimikós)
— like an epidemic
Hungarian:
járványos
— like an epidemic
Hungarian:
járványszerű
— like an epidemic
Hungarian:
epidémiás
— like an epidemic
Hungarian:
epidemikus
— like an epidemic
Hungarian:
epidémikus
— like an epidemic
Irish:
eipidéimeach
— like an epidemic
Italian:
epidemico
— like an epidemic
Japanese:
流行性
(ryūkōsei)
— like an epidemic
Latin:
epidēmicus
— like an epidemic
Latin:
epidēmiālis
— like an epidemic
Norwegian Bokmål:
epidemisk
— like an epidemic
Norwegian Nynorsk:
epidemisk
— like an epidemic
Occitan:
epidemic
— like an epidemic
Polish:
epidemiczny
— like an epidemic
Polish:
nagminny
— like an epidemic
Brazilian Portuguese:
epidêmico
— like an epidemic
European Portuguese:
epidémico
— like an epidemic
Romanian:
epidemic
— like an epidemic
Russian:
эпидеми́ческий
(epidemíčeskij)
— like an epidemic
Serbo-Croatian:
епидѐмӣјскӣ
— like an epidemic
Serbo-Croatian:
epidèmījskī
— like an epidemic
Slovak:
epidemický
— like an epidemic
Spanish:
epidémico
— like an epidemic
Ukrainian:
епідемі́чний
(epidemíčnyj)
— like an epidemic