epidemic

views updated

ep·i·dem·ic / ˌepiˈdemik/ • n. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic. ∎  a disease occurring in such a way. ∎  a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon: an epidemic of violent crime.• adj. of, relating to, or of the nature of an epidemic: shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions.

More From encyclopedia.com