endemic

[en-dem-ik]

adjective

1. natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous.

   The group is committed to preserving the endemic folkways of their nation.

   The recession hit especially hard in countries where high unemployment is endemic.

2. belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place.

   When traveling, he caught a fever endemic to the tropics.

3. (of a disease) persisting in a population or region, generally having settled to a relatively constant rate of occurrence.

   The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may never disappear, but could become endemic like the flu.

noun

1. an endemic disease.

endemic

/ ɛnˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. present within a localized area or peculiar to persons in such an area

noun

1. an endemic disease or plant

endemic

1. Relating to a disease or pathogen that is found in or confined to a particular location, region, or people. Malaria, for example, is endemic to tropical regions.

2. See also epidemic pandemic

3. Native to a specific region or environment and not occurring naturally anywhere else. The giant sequoia is endemic to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

4. Compare alien indigenous

Usage

A disease that occurs regularly in a particular area, as malaria does in many tropical countries, is said to be endemic. The word endemic, built from the prefix en–, “in or within,” and the Greek word demos, “people,” means “within the people (of a region).” A disease that affects many more people than usual in a particular area or that spreads into regions in which it does not usually occur is said to be epidemic. This word, built from the prefix epi–, meaning “upon,” and demos, means “upon the people.” In order for a disease to become epidemic it must be highly contagious, that is, easily spread through a population. Influenza has been the cause of many epidemics throughout history. Epidemics of waterborne diseases such as cholera often occur after natural disasters such as earthquakes and severe storms that disrupt or destroy sanitation systems and supplies of fresh water.

Other Word Forms

• endemically adverb
• endemism noun
• endemicity noun
• nonendemic adjective
• unendemic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of endemic¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin endēmicus, equivalent to Greek éndēm(os) “dwelling in a place, native, (of disease) endemic” (from en- “within, in” + dêm(os) “people, district”) + Latin -icus adjective suffix; en- ², deme, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of endemic¹

C18: from New Latin endēmicus, from Greek endēmos native, from _en- ² + dēmos the people

Example Sentences

Sampson exudes the type of combination of optimism and naïvete endemic to a man who grew up wealthy.

From Salon

"Like all women, since the dawn of time, I have faced misogyny and sexism so endemic that I didn't always recognize it as such," Sturgeon writes on the very first page.

From BBC

“Native trees also support local wildlife, specifically ones endemic to our geographical biome. Pollinators, nesting birds, migratory birds and other species rely on them.”

From Los Angeles Times

"We are being referred more people and I believe the problem is spreading and the non-compliance issue is endemic."

From BBC

On Thursday, he signed an executive order to address “endemic vagrancy” and end “crime and disorder on our streets.”

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does endemic mean?

Endemic is an adjective that means natural to, native to, confined to, or widespread within a place or population of people. Endemic is perhaps most commonly used to describe a disease that is prevalent in or restricted to a particular location, region, or population. For example, malaria is said to be endemic to tropical regions.In this context, it can also be used as a noun: an endemic disease can simply be called an endemic. When used to describe species of plants or animals that are found only within a specific place, it has the same meaning as native or indigenous, as in This plant is endemic to this region.It can also be applied to characteristics of a people, place, or situation, as in Corruption was endemic in that organization when I worked there.