PANDEMIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pandemic mean? 

• PANDEMIC (noun)
  The noun PANDEMIC has 1 sense:

1. an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world

  Familiarity information: PANDEMIC used as a noun is very rare.

• PANDEMIC (adjective)
  The adjective PANDEMIC has 2 senses:

1. epidemic over a wide geographical area

2. existing everywhere

  Familiarity information: PANDEMIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PANDEMIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("pandemic" is a kind of...):

epidemic (a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time)

Derivation:

pandemic (epidemic over a wide geographical area)

• PANDEMIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Epidemic over a wide geographical area

Context example:

a pandemic outbreak of malaria

Similar:

epidemic ((especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously)

Derivation:

pandemic (an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Existing everywhere

Context example:

pandemic fear of nuclear war

Similar:

general (applying to all or most members of a category or group)

 Context examples 

Previous research has indicated that in infections with the 1918 pandemic virus or infections with an H5N1 avian virus, a powerful immune response is established that leads to death.

('Significant breakthrough' in understanding the deadly nature of pandemic influenza, University of Cambridge )

This could lead to a pandemic, a worldwide outbreak of the illness.

(Bird Flu, NIH)

Some of the major diseases currently affecting countries around the globe include HIV/AIDS, malaria, pandemic/avian flu, and tuberculosis.

(International Health, NIH)

The study team followed 88 people with confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection and 300 of their household contacts.

(New study reveals a novel indicator of influenza immunity, National Institutes of Health)

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), a UN-based organisation, says the coronavirus pandemic is a hygiene crisis, and there is a clear link between water access and a community’s ability to contain the spread of the virus.

(Slightly dirty water ‘still ok’ against coronavirus, SciDev.Net)

An acute viral infection of the respiratory tract, occurring in isolated cases, in epidemics, or in pandemics; it is caused by serologically different strains of viruses (influenzaviruses) designated A, B, and C, has a 3-day incubation period, and usually lasts for 3 to 10 days.

(Influenza, NCI Thesaurus)

The molecule, a so-called mini viral RNA, is capable of inducing inflammation and cell death, and was produced at high levels by the 1918 pandemic influenza virus.

('Significant breakthrough' in understanding the deadly nature of pandemic influenza, University of Cambridge )

Seasonal influenza viruses account for about 650,000 deaths per year, whereas pandemic strains such as the 1918 H1N1 pandemic virus have been linked to 50-100 million deaths worldwide.

('Significant breakthrough' in understanding the deadly nature of pandemic influenza, University of Cambridge )

The reasons for difference in disease severity and lethality caused by seasonal influenza viruses on the one hand, and pandemic and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses on the other hand is still poorly understood.

('Significant breakthrough' in understanding the deadly nature of pandemic influenza, University of Cambridge )