contagious disease
noun
plural contagious diseases
: an infectious disease (such as influenza, measles, or tuberculosis) that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily discharges or fluids (such as respiratory droplets), by contact with a contaminated surface or object, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water
Note: The terms contagious disease and communicable disease are often used interchangeably. However, communicable diseases such as malaria or schistosomiasis that are spread by contact with disease vectors (such as mosquitoes or ticks) are not typically considered to be "contagious" diseases since they cannot be spread from direct contact with another person.
Examples of contagious disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Game theory reveals another pattern: For highly contagious diseases, vaccination rates tend to decline rapidly following safety concerns, while recovery occurs much more slowly.
—
Avi Dor, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
Over the weekend, the KDHE and the Pawnee County Health Department reported a positive case of the highly contagious disease involving a resident there.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
In the 2019-2020 school year, 95.2% of kindergarteners nationwide completed their two-dose MMR vaccine series, above the 95% threshold needed to protect unvaccinated individuals against the highly contagious disease through herd immunity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Jason Lange, USA Today, 15 May 2025
The person could have exposed others to the highly contagious disease at Southwest Deli and Cafe in south Pueblo between March 17 and 21 and at Southern Colorado Clinic in west Pueblo from 3:30 to 6 p.m. March 22.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2025
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Avi Dor, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
Over the weekend, the KDHE and the Pawnee County Health Department reported a positive case of the highly contagious disease involving a resident there.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
In the 2019-2020 school year, 95.2% of kindergarteners nationwide completed their two-dose MMR vaccine series, above the 95% threshold needed to protect unvaccinated individuals against the highly contagious disease through herd immunity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Jason Lange, USA Today, 15 May 2025
The person could have exposed others to the highly contagious disease at Southwest Deli and Cafe in south Pueblo between March 17 and 21 and at Southern Colorado Clinic in west Pueblo from 3:30 to 6 p.m. March 22.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contagious disease
Cite this Entry
“Contagious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contagious%20disease. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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