contact trace
verb
contact traced; contact tracing; contact traces
: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
How well a college contact traces, places infected students in isolation, disseminates a steady stream of messaging to students about following safety practices and punishes offenders all have an impact on how much the virus spreads, [Gonzalo] Bearman said.—
Eric Kolenich
Eric KolenichCampbell County Public Health … also contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.—Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore
Johnathan Gallardo and Mike MooreYet the only way we'll all win is if we'll do everything possible between now and then—wear a mask, wash our hands, socially distance, contact trace—to put this coronavirus permanently in our rearview mirror in order to return to our old normal every hour of every day.—Mark Wiedmer
Mark Wiedmer
: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
Unfortunately, over the course of the following days, three of my friends … tested positive for COVID-19, and I was suddenly contact traced …—Sophie Mackin
Sophie MackinExamples of contact trace in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Based on their projections, $41.1 million would be needed each year to cover patients’ basic medical needs, including health insurance, and $947 million for public health response efforts such as surveillance and contact tracing.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
The first active case of TB was reported in November, and contact tracing found two additional active cases in January.
—Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The health department said the child is in isolation and that contact tracing is underway but declined to provide additional information, citing privacy concerns.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In a statement Monday, Contra Costa Health said the agency is conducting contact tracing and notifying local healthcare providers to be vigilent for possible cases.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contact trace
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Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
The first active case of TB was reported in November, and contact tracing found two additional active cases in January.
—Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The health department said the child is in isolation and that contact tracing is underway but declined to provide additional information, citing privacy concerns.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In a statement Monday, Contra Costa Health said the agency is conducting contact tracing and notifying local healthcare providers to be vigilent for possible cases.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contact trace
Cite this Entry
“Contact trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact%20trace. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
contact trace
verb
: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
Campbell County Public Health … contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.—Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore, The Billings (Montana) Gazette
Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore, The Billings (Montana) Gazette
: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
When a first major outbreak hit Grand Forks, North Dakota, in April, the problem was clear: More than 150 employees of a wind turbine blade factory were infected. The factory shut its doors for several weeks, and public health officials tested and contact traced each case.—Sarah Mervosh and Lucy Tompkins, The Houston Chronicle
Sarah Mervosh and Lucy Tompkins, The Houston ChronicleLove words? Need even more definitions?
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