pandemic
gb/pændˈɛmɪk/ us/pændˈɛmɪk/
B2
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
worldwide outbreak of disease
A serious disease outbreak that spreads to many countries and affects a lot of people.
Usage pattern:
a pandemic of [infectious disease]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'pandemic' with 'epidemic'. An 'epidemic' is usually limited to one country or region, while a 'pandemic' affects many countries or continents. Another mistake is treating it as uncountable; it is countable, so we say 'a pandemic', 'the pandemic', and 'several pandemics', not just 'pandemic' alone as a general mass noun.
Synonyms
global epidemic (Emphasizes that the epidemic is worldwide; slightly more technical-sounding than 'pandemic'.)
|
worldwide outbreak (More descriptive and less technical; often used in news rather than scientific writing.)
Antonyms
endemic (Describes a disease that is constantly present in a limited area or population, not suddenly spreading worldwide.)
|
localized outbreak (Stresses that the disease is limited to one small area rather than many countries.)
Collocations
global pandemic
|COVID-19 pandemic
|flu pandemic
|pandemic response
|pandemic preparedness
|during the pandemic
Themes
health
|science
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel, work, and school systems around the world.
- Scientists are studying how to prevent the next influenza pandemic.
- The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic after it spread to several continents.
- Many small businesses did not survive the economic shock of the pandemic.
- During the pandemic, many countries introduced strict public health measures.
Learner examples
- The pandemic affected people in many countries.
- Schools closed for months during the pandemic.
- The government gave money to workers who lost jobs in the pandemic.
- Doctors worked very hard to treat patients in the pandemic.
- Travel was difficult because of the pandemic.
adjective
B2
property
2
relating to a global disease
Describing a disease or situation that is part of a pandemic and spreads across many countries.
Usage pattern:
pandemic [disease / situation]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the adjective form as if it were a noun, for example, saying *'during pandemic'* instead of 'during the pandemic' (noun) or 'during pandemic times'. They may also say *'a pandemic disease'* when 'pandemic' already implies disease; more natural is 'pandemic flu', 'pandemic virus', or simply 'the pandemic'.
Synonyms
global (General word for affecting the whole world; does not specifically imply disease or health unless context is clear.)
|
widespread (Means spread over a large area or among many people, but not specific to disease across multiple countries.)
Antonyms
localized (Describes something limited to a small area, the opposite of a pandemic scale spread.)
Collocations
pandemic flu
|pandemic virus
|pandemic response
|pandemic plan
|pandemic risk
|pandemic threat
Themes
health
|science
|policy
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The country updated its pandemic response plan after recent outbreaks.
- Researchers are working on vaccines to protect against future pandemic influenza strains.
- Stronger pandemic preparedness is now a priority for many governments.
Learner examples
- They created a new team to improve pandemic plans.
- The report looks at pandemic risks in the next ten years.
- We learned many lessons from the recent pandemic crisis.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
very widespread serious problem
A very big problem that affects many people in many places, compared to a disease spread.
Usage pattern:
a pandemic of [negative thing]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume 'pandemic' can only be used for diseases and not recognize this figurative use in news or opinion pieces. In this sense, it is usually followed by 'of' plus a negative concept, as in 'a pandemic of fear', not by a disease name.
Synonyms
epidemic (Often used figuratively in the same way, as in 'an epidemic of crime'; slightly more common than 'pandemic' in figurative speech.)
|
wave (More general and less dramatic; does not necessarily imply something as extreme as a disease.)
Antonyms
isolated issue (Stresses that the problem occurs in only a few cases or places, not on a massive scale.)
Collocations
a pandemic of fear
|a pandemic of misinformation
|a pandemic of loneliness
|a pandemic of violence
Themes
society
|media
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Commentators warn of a pandemic of misinformation spreading through social media.
- Some experts say we are facing a pandemic of loneliness in modern cities.
- The report describes a pandemic of anxiety among young people after years of uncertainty.
Learner examples
- The writer talks about a pandemic of fear in society.
- Many people say there is a pandemic of loneliness today.
- Some leaders worry about a pandemic of hate online.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pandemic
IPA
GB/pændˈɛmɪk/
US/pændˈɛmɪk/
Syllables & stress
pan - dem - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dem)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pandemic
Noun
- Base: pandemic
- Plural: pandemics
Word family
Expressions
during the pandemic
1/dˈʊɹɪŋ ðə pændˈɛmɪk/
fixed phrase
in the time of the pandemic
In the period when the pandemic was happening.
Examples
- Many people started working from home during the pandemic.
- Online shopping grew very quickly during the pandemic.
global pandemic
1/ɡlˈoʊbəl pændˈɛmɪk/
fixed phrase
pandemic affecting much of world
A pandemic that affects many or almost all parts of the world.
Examples
- Climate change could increase the risk of another global pandemic.
- The global pandemic forced governments to rethink their health systems.
pandemic fatigue
1/pændˈɛmɪk fətˈiɡ/
fixed phrase
exhaustion from long pandemic measures
Feeling very tired, bored, or stressed because the pandemic and its rules have gone on for a long time.
Examples
- Health officials worried that pandemic fatigue would make people ignore safety rules.
- Pandemic fatigue led many to seek social contact despite the risks.
pandemic preparedness
1/pændˈɛmɪk pɹipˈɛɹɪdnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
preparation for future pandemics
How ready a country or organization is for a future pandemic, including plans, money, and equipment.
Examples
- The report highlights serious gaps in pandemic preparedness.
- Investing in pandemic preparedness can save many lives later.
pandemic response
1/pændˈɛmɪk ɹɪspˈɑns/
fixed phrase
formal
actions to manage a pandemic
The things that governments, hospitals, and others do to control and manage a pandemic.
Examples
- The country's pandemic response included strict border controls.
- Experts are reviewing what worked and what failed in the pandemic response.
post-pandemic world
1/pˈoʊst pændˈɛmɪk wˈɚld/
fixed phrase
world after a pandemic ends
The world and how life is after a pandemic is mostly over.
Examples
- Companies are trying to understand what work will look like in a post-pandemic world.
- Travel habits changed in the post-pandemic world.
pre-pandemic levels
1/pɹˈi pændˈɛmɪk lˈɛvəlz/
fixed phrase
levels from before the pandemic
The numbers or situation as they were before the pandemic started.
Examples
- Tourism has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
- Unemployment is now lower than pre-pandemic levels.