community spread
noun
variants
or community transmission
: the spread of a contagious disease within a community
specifically
: the spread of a contagious disease to individuals in a particular geographic location who have no known contact with other infected individuals or who have not recently traveled to an area where the disease has any documented cases
Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, who is the top coronavirus expert in the country, said community spread made it almost impossible to predict how many cases there will be. —
Megan Sheets and Emily Crane
Megan Sheets and Emily Crane … a 50-year-old New Rochelle man became the first known person in New York to contract the virus through community spread. —Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell In areas where community transmission is high, schools may be closed and businesses may ask employees to work from home. —Melissa Healy
Melissa Healy Examples of community spread in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But over time, the community spread out.
—
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
These data can sometimes reveal community spread of a pathogen days or even weeks before cases spike at hospitals and health care systems.
—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
There's no risk of community spread from mist outside the complex, the DOH believes.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
22 May 2026
Public health officials focus on vaccination rates among kindergartners because elementary schools can be hot spots for germs and the source of community spread.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
The community spread outside of YouTube, too.
—
Bijan Stephen,
Longreads,
26 Feb. 2026
Central Texas has a moderate number of flu cases in local emergency rooms, but the community spread is considered low.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
The outbreak initially centered on two schools, but the state has identified some cases without known sources of transmission, indicating ongoing community spread.
—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
20 Nov. 2025
This indicates a person-to-person community spread, which can occur through intimate contact.
—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
These data can sometimes reveal community spread of a pathogen days or even weeks before cases spike at hospitals and health care systems.
—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
There's no risk of community spread from mist outside the complex, the DOH believes.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
22 May 2026
Public health officials focus on vaccination rates among kindergartners because elementary schools can be hot spots for germs and the source of community spread.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
The community spread outside of YouTube, too.
—
Bijan Stephen,
Longreads,
26 Feb. 2026
Central Texas has a moderate number of flu cases in local emergency rooms, but the community spread is considered low.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
The outbreak initially centered on two schools, but the state has identified some cases without known sources of transmission, indicating ongoing community spread.
—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
20 Nov. 2025
This indicates a person-to-person community spread, which can occur through intimate contact.
—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Community spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community%20spread. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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