vector
VEK-ter
/ˈvektər/
An organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.
Vector refers to the carrier of the disease, not the disease itself (e.g., the mosquito is the vector; malaria is the disease).
The story behind the word. From the Latin vector, meaning 'one who carries or transmits,' which comes from the verb vehere (to carry). In the late 19th century, epidemiologists adopted the term to describe organisms that carry pathogens from one host to another.
Word relationships
- carrier: Carrier can refer to an asymptomatic human harboring a disease, whereas vector in biology almost always refers to an animal or insect intermediary.
- transmitter: Transmitter is a broader term that can apply to radio signals, physical objects, or biological entities.
Commonly confused with
- pathogen: A pathogen is the actual microorganism (virus, bacterium, or fungus) that causes disease, while a vector is the organism that carries and transmits that pathogen.
Word family
- vectorial (adjective): Relating to a vector or disease transmission.
Collocations
- disease vector
- biological vector
- vector control
- vector-borne illness
Example sentences
- "Mosquitoes are the primary vector for malaria, transmitting the parasite to millions of people annually." A medical science textbook.
Memory hook
Think of a 'vector' as a biological 'vehicle' that 'conveys' diseases from one host to another. A biological vehicle carrying disease.
When not to use
Do not use in a general sense for any pest; it must be an organism that actively transmits a pathogen.
Fun facts
- The word 'vehicle' and 'vector' share the same Latin root, vehere, because both are tools used to carry things from one place to another!
Related words
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