communicable disease
noun
plural communicable diseases
: an infectious disease (such as cholera, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmissible by contact with infected individuals or their bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets, blood, or semen), by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes, fleas, or mice)
Note: The terms communicable disease and contagious disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases such as malaria or schistosomiasis that are spread by contact with disease vectors are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.
Examples of communicable disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Over 2 million Malaysians are living with non-communicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity.
—
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Ferrer said the county depends on nearly $1 billion in federal funding annually to track and prevent communicable diseases and combat chronic health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
—Angela Hart, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
California law requires students to be immunized against 10 serious communicable diseases.
—Diana Lambert, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026
Thirty-four out of every 1,000 children born in 1946 were expected to die before their first birthday, many from communicable diseases.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
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Angelica Ang, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Ferrer said the county depends on nearly $1 billion in federal funding annually to track and prevent communicable diseases and combat chronic health conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
—Angela Hart, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
California law requires students to be immunized against 10 serious communicable diseases.
—Diana Lambert, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026
Thirty-four out of every 1,000 children born in 1946 were expected to die before their first birthday, many from communicable diseases.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for communicable disease
Cite this Entry
“Communicable disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communicable%20disease. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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