infectious disease
/ɪnˈfɛkʃəs dɪˈziːz/ · in·fec·tious dis·ease
noun
- A disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites) that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another. The outbreak of the infectious disease prompted the health department to issue quarantine orders.
Synonyms
contagious diseasecommunicable diseasetransmissible diseaseinfectious illnessviral diseasebacterial infectionepidemic diseasepandemic disease
Antonyms
Did you know? The phrase "infectious disease" became standard after the germ theory of disease was accepted in the late 19th century, replacing older terms like "contagion" that implied mystical transmission.