pandemic

[pan-dem-ik] /pænˈdɛm ɪk/
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
3.
a pandemic disease.
Origin
1660-70; < Late Latin pandēm(us) < Greek pándēmos common, public (pan- pan- + dêm(os) the people + -os adj. suffix) + -ic
Related forms
pandemia
[pan-dee-mee-uh] /pænˈdi mi ə/ (Show IPA),
noun
pandemicity
[pan-duh-mis-i-tee] /ˌpæn dəˈmɪs ɪ ti/ (Show IPA),
noun
interpandemic, adjective
Can be confused
endemic, epidemic, pandemic.
Examples from the web for pandemic
  • This could be the beginning of an influenza pandemic.
  • He is working to stop the next global pandemic before it starts.
  • The pandemic has spread throughout the world's oceans with devastating effects on these docile sea-dwelling reptiles.
  • The death toll would climb much higher in the event of a new global pandemic or bioterror attack.
  • This was certainly true of the plan drawn up over the past few years to combat an influenza pandemic.
  • What does a pandemic have to do with economic recovery? So far, the prospect of worldwide swine flu is causing market panics.
  • Top virologists have been appearing in Washington in recent weeks to sound the alarm about pandemic flu.
  • As part of the deal, the companies will form joint teams to oversee manufacturing and pandemic planning.
  • At the moment, the world's pandemic-alert system is distressingly secretive.
  • Health officials have warned that it could spark a pandemic, infecting millions of people.
British Dictionary definitions for pandemic

pandemic

/pænˈdɛmɪk/
adjective
1.
(of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic
noun
2.
a pandemic disease
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin pandēmus, from Greek pandēmos general, from pan- + demos the people
Word Origin and History for pandemic
adj.

1660s, from Late Latin pandemus, from Greek pandemos "pertaining to all people; public, common," from pan- "all" (see pan-) + demos "people" (see demotic). Modeled on epidemic. The noun is first recorded 1853, from the adjective.

pandemic in Medicine

pandemic pan·dem·ic (pān-děm'ĭk)
adj.
Epidemic over a wide geographic area. n.
A pandemic disease.

pandemic in Science
pandemic
  (pān-děm'ĭk)   
An epidemic that spreads over a very wide area, such as an entire country or continent.
pandemic in Culture

pandemic definition


A widespread epidemic affecting a large part of the population.