pandemic

[pan-dem-ik]

adjective

1. (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area.

2. general; universal.

   pandemic fear of atomic war.

noun

1. a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world.

pandemic

/ pænˈdɛmɪk /

adjective

1. (of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic

noun

1. a pandemic disease

pandemic

1. An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.

pandemic

1. A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.

Other Word Forms

• pandemia noun
• pandemicity noun
• interpandemic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemic¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from Late Latin pandēm(us), from Greek pándēmos “common, public” ( pan- “all” + dêm(os) “the people” + -os adjective suffix) + -ic; pan-

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemic¹

C17: from Late Latin pandēmus, from Greek pandēmos general, from _pan- + demos the people

Example Sentences

In his Senate hearing Kennedy said the CDC had lied to Americans in the pandemic about mask wearing, social distancing and the ability of the vaccine to stop the transmission of coronavirus.

From BBC

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued jobs numbers showing a contraction of the labor market in July, a first since the depths of the pandemic in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

The number of jobs created each month has been slowing steadily since the boom that followed the reopening from the pandemic.

From BBC

Universal vaccines are urgently needed to provide broader protection against ever-changing respiratory viruses, such as influenza, that are major pandemic threats.

From Salon

There is no doubt since the pandemic and the rise of home working, strikes do not have as much impact as they used to.

From BBC