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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That said, the preview also shows Buck and Hen both screaming like someone died — so does someone? 9-1-1's contagion event continues Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025 The contagion cut through the fault lines of Liberian society. Edna Bonhomme, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025 Mills said found cats can also have ringworm, fleas and a host of contagions other than bird flu. Jia H. Jung, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025 In the current epidemic, however, culling hasn’t been enough to extinguish the contagion. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contagion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contagion. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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)

More from Merriam-Webster on contagion

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