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contagious

contagious

108 3.1
Something that spreads from one person to another, like a disease or feeling
  • adjective
  • /kənˈteɪdʒəs/
translation icon : contagioso
  • The doctor explained that some infections can be contagious before any symptoms appear.
  • a contagious disease
  • highly contagious
  • contagious enthusiasm

Like there was that just tells you how contagious ignorance is.

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Examples

  • So if you have a cold, right, the days that you're most contagious are the first few days that you have symptoms.

  • But instead, they created a more contagious form of the disease.

  • "I might at least be able to tell you whether it's a contagious disease or not.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • But because it is a contagious virus, just like the flu.

  • An attitude is a trait that is very contagious and can perhaps make or break a department.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Emotions are contagious So what you're feeling is normal.

  • Both jazz and humor are contagious and create a feeling of harmony with our neighbors.

  • It looks like some people with this infection were contagious even before they had any symptoms themselves.

  • During the flu season, it is important to stay home if you are feeling contagious.

  • Laughter is contagious; when one person starts laughing, others often join in.

Synonyms

infectious
vscontagious
26 4.0

A feeling or disease that spreads quickly to other people

is able to be spread but does not stress how easily it moves
highly contagious
vscontagious
9 3.4

A disease that spreads very easily between people

is able to be spread but not necessarily with great ease
communicable
vscontagious
  • Specialized
9 4.2

Able to pass from one person to another and cause sickness

is similar but extends beyond medical cases to wider ideas
transmissible
vscontagious
  • Specialized
3 5.3

Able to pass from one person or animal to another by infection

is broader and also covers feelings or ideas, not only diseases
transmittable
vscontagious
2 3.9

Able to pass from one person or animal to another

is a general spread term that includes non biological ideas and feelings
infective
vscontagious
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Able to make people sick and spread disease

is about being able to move between people rather than causing disease
spreadable
vscontagious
3.9

Able to pass from one person to another

is broader and applies to diseases, feelings, and ideas alike
catching
vscontagious
3.5

Able to spread from one person to another, like a cold

is more general and also covers non physical things like ideas
contractible
vscontagious
  • Specialized
6.5

Easily caught and spread among people or animals

is broader, applying to both physical sickness and ideas or feelings
contractable
vscontagious
  • Specialized
7.1

Able to be caught from another person and make you sick

is more general and includes non disease spread like feelings
catchable
vscontagious
4.7

Easy to get, especially an illness that spreads between people

is broader and also used for spreading feelings or ideas

Antonyms

Not able to spread from one person to another

Compounds

A disease that spreads very easily between people

A disease that easily spreads between people

A laugh that makes other people start laughing too

contagious abortion
  • Specialized
8.8

An illness that spreads among farm animals and makes pregnant animals lose their unborn young and can infect people

Strong excitement that makes other people feel excited too

A yawn that makes other people yawn too

How Contagious

infectious
  • Specialized
76 3.9
contagious
108 3.1

Surface Forms

contagious positive

Morphology

contagious = contagion (transparent) = contagion + ous

The adjective is a regular adjectival formation from 'contagion' meaning 'spread', so the meaning 'able to be spread' follows directly.

Etymology

Contagious comes from Latin parts con- 'with' and tangere 'to touch'. So, think of something that 'touches' others and spreads to them, like a disease or a feeling, which is why we call things that pass quickly from person to person 'contagious'.