epidemic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
  2. adjective (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously
    • an epidemic outbreak of influenza

WordNet

Ep`i*dem"ic, Ep`i*dem"ic*al adjective (Also<
  • Epidemic
  • Epidemical
)
Etymology
L. epidemus, Gr. , , among the people, epidemic; in + people: cf. F. épidémique. Cf. Demagogue.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a community; -- applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc. See Endemic.
  2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an epidemic evil.
    It was the epidemical sin of the nation. Bp. Burnet.
Ep`i*dem"ic noun
Etymology
Cf. Epidemy.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) An epidemic disease.
  2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of terror.

Webster 1913