Dictionary
contagious
adjective con·ta·gious \-jəs\
: able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching
: having a sickness that can be passed to someone else by touching
: capable of being easily spread to others : causing other people to feel or act a similar way
Full Definition of CONTAGIOUS
2
: bearing contagion <contagious people>
3
: used for contagious diseases <a contagious ward>
4
: exciting similar emotions or conduct in others <contagious enthusiasm>
— con·ta·gious·ly adverb
— con·ta·gious·ness noun
See contagious defined for English-language learners
See contagious defined for kids
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First Known Use of CONTAGIOUS
14th century
Related to CONTAGIOUS
- Synonyms
- catching, communicable, pestilent, transmissible, transmittable
- Antonyms
- noncommunicable
Other Medicine Terms
Rhymes with CONTAGIOUS
CONTAGIOUS Defined for Kids
contagious
adjective con·ta·gious \kən-ˈtā-jəs\
Definition of CONTAGIOUS for Kids
1
: able to be passed from one individual to another through contact <a contagious disease>
2
: having a sickness that can be passed to someone else
3
: causing other people to feel or act a similar way <a contagious laugh>
Medical Dictionary
contagious
adjective con·ta·gious \-jəs\
Medical Definition of CONTAGIOUS
1
: communicable by contact <tuberculosis in the contagious stage>—compare infectious 2
2
: bearing contagion <many persons…are contagious long before they are aware of the presence of their disease—Journal of the American Medical Association>
3
: used for contagious diseases <a contagious ward>
—con·ta·gious·ly adverb
—con·ta·gious·ness noun
Learn More About CONTAGIOUS
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