infectious disease

noun

: a disease (such as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease

Examples of infectious disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fox News Digital previously spoke with Tammy Lundstrom, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist for Trinity Health in Michigan, about the risks of infection. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025 Beyond oncology, Epic Care offers a wide range of specialties, including breast health and surgery, plastic surgery, bariatric surgery, endocrinology, internal medicine, infectious disease, lab services, and ACR accredited diagnostic imaging. Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 5 June 2025 Off the building’s main delivery entrance, where samples arrive from the field, is a cooler where deceased animals are stored for examination for signs of infectious disease, especially rabies. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025 At baseline, the data showed that about 1 in 5 children between the ages of 2 and 5 were estimated to have dental caries, a chronic infectious disease involving tooth decay and cavities, along with more than half of children ages 6 to 12 and more than 57% of teenagers. Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for infectious disease

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of infectious disease was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infectious disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectious%20disease. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

infectious disease

noun
: a disease caused by the presence, growth, and increase in numbers of germs in the body

Medical Definition

infectious disease

noun
: a disease (as influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus) caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms (as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi) which grow and multiply there compare communicable disease, contagious disease
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!