pandemic
pan-DEM-ik
/pænˈdɛmɪk/
An outbreak of a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world.
A pandemic is defined by its geographic spread, not necessarily by the severity of the illness.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Greek 'pandemos', meaning 'pertaining to all people'. It was originally used in a more general sense to describe things that affected everyone, but by the 17th century, it became specifically associated with widespread disease.
Word relationships
- global outbreak: A more descriptive term, whereas pandemic is the formal medical classification.
- localized outbreak: An outbreak confined to a small area.
Commonly confused with
- epidemic: An epidemic is a large outbreak in a community or region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has gone global.
Collocations
- global pandemic
- declare a pandemic
- pandemic preparedness
Example sentences
- "The 1918 influenza pandemic is estimated to have infected one-third of the world's population." Historical reference.
- "The WHO declared the situation a pandemic once the virus showed sustained transmission across multiple continents." Modern health policy.
Memory hook
PAN means 'all' (like a panorama view), and DEMIC refers to people. All the people.
When not to use
Do not use for a disease that is localized to one region (epidemic) or always present (endemic).
Fun facts
- The word 'pandemic' was used in the 1600s to describe anything universal, including 'pandemic' love or 'pandemic' fear.
Related words
Explore more words
transnational, cosmopolitan, epidemiology, ubiquitous, omnipresent, globalization
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