-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
social disease
noun
1
2
: a disease (such as tuberculosis) whose incidence is directly related to social and economic factors
Examples of social disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
She is called, among other things, America’s favorite social disease.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024
Tuberculosis is a social disease Tuberculosis is a preventable disease, thanks to effective vaccines, testing and treatments.
—Carlos Franco-Paredes, Fortune Well, 10 July 2023
Chess pieces just sort of materialize throughout the night; one couple plays chess, then another, then another, catching on like a dance craze or a social disease.
—Jordan Michelman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near social disease
Cite this Entry
“Social disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20disease. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
social disease
noun1
2
: a disease (as tuberculosis) whose incidence is directly related to social and economic factors
More from Merriam-Webster on social disease
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about social disease
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share