epidemic
noun
[ ɛpɪˈdɛmɪk ]
• a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
• "a flu epidemic"
epidemic
adjective
• of the nature of an epidemic.
• "epidemic diseases"
Similar:
rife,
rampant,
widespread,
wide-ranging,
extensive,
sweeping,
penetrating,
pervading,
global,
universal,
inescapable,
ubiquitous,
prevalent,
predominant,
endemic,
pandemic,
epizootic,
Origin:
early 17th century (as an adjective): from French épidémique, from épidémie, via late Latin from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease’, from epidēmios ‘prevalent’, from epi ‘upon’ + dēmos ‘the people’.
