contagion

noun

con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
1
a
: a contagious disease
b
: the transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact
c
: a disease-producing agent (such as a virus)
2
a
: poison
b
: contagious influence, quality, or nature
c
: corrupting influence or contact
3
a
: rapid communication of an influence (such as a doctrine or emotional state)
b
: an influence that spreads rapidly

Examples of contagion in a Sentence

a disease that spreads by contagion People have been warned to keep out of the area to avoid contagion.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Maybe Phillips was trying to make some sort of a point about how the Joker isn’t one person but a movement, an entity, a spirit of anarchy that spreads like contagion and holds no loyalties. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024 Treating political violence like a contagion could help safeguard the future of American democracy. Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 Flashback: Genesis filed for bankruptcy in early 2023, as crypto contagion destroyed several high-profile companies in the sector. Ryan Lawler, Axios, 5 Aug. 2024 Smaller clusters can also occur in high schools and other communities, though such contagion can be blunted with certain interventions. Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 31 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for contagion 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contagioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contagiun, borrowed from Latin contāgiōn, contāgiō "contact, contact resulting in disease, infection, pollution," from contag-, variant stem of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot" + -iōn-, -iō, suffix of action nouns formed from compound verbs — more at contingent entry 1

Note: The vowel length in contāgiō is unexpected and difficult to explain; a similarly lengthened vowel is found in other deverbal derivatives with -ag- as a second member (compāgēs "bond, joint," from pangere, ambāgēs "circuitous path," from agere; see agent, pact).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of contagion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near contagion

Cite this Entry

“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contagion. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

contagion

noun
con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
1
: the passing of a disease from one individual to another by direct or indirect contact
2
: a contagious disease or something (as a virus) that causes a contagious disease

Medical Definition

contagion

noun
con·​ta·​gion kən-ˈtā-jən How to pronounce contagion (audio)
1
: the transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact
2
3
: a disease-producing agent (as a virus)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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