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contagiousness

contagiousness

1 6.0
How easily a disease spreads from person to person
  • noun
  • /kənˈteɪdʒəsnəs/
translation icon : contagiosidad
  • Experts are studying the contagiousness of the new virus to prevent widespread outbreaks.

And really nice research on the contagiousness of altruism and compassion.

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Examples

  • And really nice research on the contagiousness of altruism and compassion.

  • If smallpox were released today, it would encounter a world exquisitely vulnerable to its lethal contagiousness.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The contagiousness of the flu makes it important for people to get vaccinated.

  • Understanding the contagiousness of certain diseases can help in controlling their spread.

Synonyms

infectivity
vscontagiousness
  • Specialized
1 7.1

How easily a germ or disease spreads and makes people sick

focuses on transfer between organisms by direct or indirect contact
virality
vscontagiousness
  • Specialized
7.0

How easily a virus spreads between people

focuses on being spread by contact not necessarily on speed
catchiness
vscontagiousness
4.0

How easily something like a disease or behavior spreads between people

is specific to spread through contact between organisms rather than broader uses
spreadability
vscontagiousness
  • Specialized
6.1

How easily something like a disease or idea moves between people

focuses on bodily transfer between organisms by contact, not network transmission
infectiousness
vscontagiousness
6.3

How easily a feeling or idea makes other people feel the same

is about physical spread between organisms via contact, not emotional or idea spread

Antonyms

Not able to spread from one person to another

How Infectious

contagiousness
1 6.0
infectiousness
  • Specialized
1 4.1
transmissibility
  • Specialized
1 7.2
infectivity
  • Specialized
1 7.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

contagiousness = contagious (transparent) = contag + ious + ness

The suffix '-ness' is transparently added to 'contagious' to form a noun indicating the state or quality.

Etymology

The word contagiousness comes from Latin parts meaning 'together' (con-) and 'to touch' (tangere). Think of contact: if something can 'touch' others it can pass on, so contagiousness is the ability to spread from one person to another.