infectious disease
noun
: a disease (such as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
Examples of infectious disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Women's Health interviewed four infectious disease experts break it down.
—
Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Severe complications and extended hospital stays are less common now compared with several years ago, said Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023
But, during his early days in office, as Biden was convening his team to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Biden joked that the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, should sit in the vice president’s seat.
—Will Weissert, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
But based on its increasing caseloads, experts like Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale University, predict this one will stick around through the winter.
—Popular Science, 10 Aug. 2023
What Is Leprosy? Also known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy is an infectious disease that’s been around for thousands of years.
—Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 4 Aug. 2023
Marrazzo is board certified in infectious disease and belongs to the American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America, according to a release from the NIH.
—Amy Yurkanin | Ayurkanin@al.com, al, 2 Aug. 2023
Marrazzo, whose Twitter background shows her in a camper van, regularly shares infectious disease information between retweets of happy goat videos and WeRateDogs tweets.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 2 Aug. 2023
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system.
—Brandon Girod, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
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Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Severe complications and extended hospital stays are less common now compared with several years ago, said Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023
But, during his early days in office, as Biden was convening his team to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Biden joked that the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, should sit in the vice president’s seat.
—Will Weissert, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
But based on its increasing caseloads, experts like Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale University, predict this one will stick around through the winter.
—Popular Science, 10 Aug. 2023
What Is Leprosy? Also known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy is an infectious disease that’s been around for thousands of years.
—Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 4 Aug. 2023
Marrazzo is board certified in infectious disease and belongs to the American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America, according to a release from the NIH.
—Amy Yurkanin | Ayurkanin@al.com, al, 2 Aug. 2023
Marrazzo, whose Twitter background shows her in a camper van, regularly shares infectious disease information between retweets of happy goat videos and WeRateDogs tweets.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 2 Aug. 2023
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system.
—Brandon Girod, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infectious disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1600, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of infectious disease was
in 1600
Dictionary Entries Near infectious disease
Cite this Entry
“Infectious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectious%20disease. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease caused by the presence, growth, and increase in numbers of germs in the body
Medical Definition
infectious disease
noun
: a disease (as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
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