contagious
kun-TAY-juss
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/
Spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact.
Describes diseases easily caught through contact; figuratively describes catching emotions like laughter.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'contagiosus', stemming from 'tangere' (to touch). The core historical concept was that you caught illness by physically touching someone afflicted.
Word relationships
- transmissible: 'Transmissible' is a formal technical term for any disease that can be passed along.
- catching: 'Catching' is an informal, everyday synonym.
- non-communicable: 'Non-communicable' diseases cannot be passed from person to person.
Commonly confused with
- infectious: Infectious means caused by an invading microbe; contagious specifically means easily transmitted by contact.
Word family
- contagion (noun): The communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.
- contagiousness (noun): The quality of being easily transmitted.
Collocations
- highly contagious
- contagious disease
- contagious laughter
- contagious yawn
Idioms & expressions
- contagious enthusiasm
Example sentences
- "The common cold is highly contagious during the first few days of symptoms." Public health note
Memory hook
CONTACT causes a CONTAGIOUS cold to pass to you. Spread by touching.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'infectious'; infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms, but not all are spread by contact (contagious).
Fun facts
- Laughter is scientifically documented as socially contagious due to mirror neurons in the human brain.
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