epidemic
gb/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/ us/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
B2
English
~ 5300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
sudden spread of a disease
A time when many people in one area get the same infectious disease, more than normal.
Usage pattern:
an epidemic of [disease]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse “epidemic” with “pandemic.” An epidemic is usually limited to a region or community, while a pandemic affects many countries or continents. Also, learners sometimes say *“many epidemics of flu every year”* when they mean simple *“flu seasons.”* Use “epidemic” only when the number of cases is much higher than usual.
Synonyms
outbreak (Broader and more general; can refer to any sudden start of disease or violence, not just large-scale infectious disease.)
|
pandemic (Usually refers to a disease epidemic that has spread across many countries or worldwide.)
Antonyms
containment (Refers to successfully stopping or limiting the spread of the disease, the opposite situation of an epidemic growing.)
Collocations
flu epidemic
|global epidemic
|control an epidemic
|contain an epidemic
|the spread of an epidemic
|epidemic outbreak
Themes
health
|science
|society
Examples
- The city declared a state of emergency after an epidemic of cholera was confirmed in several districts.
- Vaccination campaigns helped bring the measles epidemic under control within a few months.
- Health officials are monitoring the region to prevent a local outbreak from turning into a full epidemic.
Learner examples
- There was a big flu epidemic last winter.
- Doctors worked day and night during the epidemic.
- The government closed schools to slow the epidemic.
- Vaccines can stop an epidemic from spreading.
- The epidemic started in a small town and then spread.
Noun
C1
event
2
widespread harmful social problem
A time when a bad problem or behavior becomes very common and spreads quickly among many people.
Usage pattern:
an epidemic of [negative thing]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “epidemic” for positive things, for example *“an epidemic of happiness.”* In modern English, this figurative use is almost always for negative or worrying things (crime, obesity, drug use, loneliness, etc.). For positive things, words like “boom” or “trend” are more natural.
Synonyms
wave (Emphasizes a strong rise in something for a period of time; less medical-sounding than “epidemic.”)
|
surge (Focuses on the sudden increase in numbers; does not always suggest spread through a population in the same way.)
Antonyms
decline (Describes the opposite trend, when the level of a problem or behavior is going down instead of spreading widely.)
Collocations
an epidemic of crime
|the obesity epidemic
|an epidemic of violence
|an epidemic of loneliness
|an opioid epidemic
|an epidemic of fraud
Themes
society
|problems
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Experts warn that social media addiction has reached epidemic levels among teenagers.
- Many countries are struggling to respond to the global obesity epidemic.
- The city is facing an epidemic of gun violence that has shocked residents.
- Public health officials describe opioid misuse as an epidemic that is destroying families.
- There appears to be an epidemic of loneliness in large modern cities.
Learner examples
- Some people say there is an epidemic of obesity in this country.
- The town has an epidemic of car thefts this year.
- There is an epidemic of phone use during class.
- They are trying to stop the drug epidemic in the area.
- An epidemic of stress is making many workers sick.
adjective
C1
property
3
relating to an epidemic disease
Describing a disease or situation where many people in one area are infected.
Usage pattern:
epidemic [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “epidemic” as an adjective before any health word, for example *“epidemic hospital”* or *“epidemic doctor,”* which is incorrect. Use it before words like “disease,” “outbreak,” “spread,” “levels,” or “transmission,” not for people or places.
Synonyms
contagious (Focuses more on how easily a disease can pass from person to person, not on how many cases there are.)
Antonyms
sporadic (Describes cases that happen only occasionally or in scattered instances, not in large epidemic numbers.)
Collocations
epidemic disease
|epidemic outbreak
|epidemic spread
|epidemic transmission
|epidemic levels of infection
|epidemic control measures
Themes
health
|science
Examples
- The report examined the country’s preparedness for epidemic diseases like cholera and yellow fever.
- Hospitals are updating their protocols for managing epidemic outbreaks.
- Researchers are studying the factors that turn local infections into epidemic threats.
- Epidemic transmission was fueled by crowded living conditions and poor sanitation.
- The government created a task force to improve epidemic surveillance and response.
Learner examples
- The virus caused an epidemic outbreak in the city.
- They are planning for possible epidemic diseases in the future.
- The country improved its epidemic control systems.
- Epidemic spread of the flu worried doctors.
- Scientists work to stop epidemic infections early.
unknown
C1
property
4
very widespread and harmful
Very common and spread widely in a group or place, usually for a bad problem.
Usage pattern:
[problem] is epidemic
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “epidemic” as an adjective for neutral or positive things, such as *“epidemic interest in sports.”* In modern English, this adjective is usually used only for negative or worrying issues (crime, corruption, stress, misinformation, etc.).
Synonyms
rampant (Often a bit more emotional or dramatic; commonly used for negative things like crime or corruption.)
|
widespread (Slightly weaker; does not always carry the strong sense of rapid spread that “epidemic” suggests.)
Antonyms
rare (Describes something that does not happen often, the opposite of being very widespread.)
|
limited (Suggests that the problem exists but only in a small area or group, not spread widely.)
Collocations
epidemic corruption
|epidemic levels of unemployment
|epidemic fear
|epidemic misinformation
|epidemic poverty
Themes
society
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Misinformation about vaccines has become epidemic on some social media platforms.
- In many large cities, housing insecurity is now epidemic.
- Corruption is epidemic in sectors where there is little transparency.
- Experts say that burnout is epidemic in high-pressure workplaces.
- Fear of job loss was epidemic during the economic crisis.
Learner examples
- Online hate is epidemic on some websites.
- In this country, obesity is epidemic among young adults.
- Phone use while driving is epidemic in many cities.
- Stress is epidemic in modern offices.
- Smoking was epidemic in the 1960s.
Grammar
Dictionary form
epidemic
IPA
GB/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
US/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
Syllables & stress
epi - dem - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: epidemic
Noun
- Base: epidemic
- Plural: epidemics
Word family
Forms
epidemics
noun
Core family
epidemiology
noun C1
epidemiologist
noun
Related words
pandemic
noun B2
endemic
adjective
Advanced or less common
epidemiological
adjective C1
Expressions
an epidemic of [something]
1/ən ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
a sudden large increase of something
Used to say that a problem, behavior, or disease has become very common and is spreading quickly among many people.
Examples
- Many countries are dealing with an epidemic of obesity in children.
- The city is facing an epidemic of car thefts this year.
epidemic proportions
1/ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk pɹəpˈɔɹʃənz/
fixed phrase
extremely large and widespread
Used to say that something has become extremely large and common, almost like a disease that spreads quickly.
Examples
- Online scams have reached epidemic proportions in recent years.
- The problem of plastic waste in the oceans has grown to epidemic proportions.
reach epidemic proportions
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk pɹəpˈɔɹʃənz/
fixed phrase
become extremely widespread
To grow or increase so much that it becomes extremely widespread and serious, like a big disease outbreak.
Examples
- Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in some regions.
- Experts fear that antibiotic resistance could reach epidemic proportions if misuse continues.
the obesity epidemic
1/ðə oʊbˈisəti ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
fixed phrase
very widespread obesity problem
The situation where many more people than before are very overweight, in a way that is a serious health problem for society.
Examples
- Schools are trying to improve lunches to help fight the obesity epidemic.
- The obesity epidemic is putting pressure on healthcare systems around the world.
the opioid epidemic
1/ðə ˈoʊpiˌɔɪd ˌɛpɪdˈɛmɪk/
fixed phrase
widespread opioid misuse problem
The serious problem in some countries where many people are becoming addicted to opioid drugs and many are dying from them.
Examples
- Policymakers are under pressure to respond to the opioid epidemic.
- The opioid epidemic has devastated many small towns and rural communities.