contagious
Capable of spreading from person to person rapidly
Examples
In a meeting
“Workplace stress can be contagious, affecting entire teams if not addressed.”
Over coffee
“Your positive energy is contagious—everyone feels better around you.”
Why this word
infectious
Contagious specifically means spread by contact, while infectious is broader and includes diseases spread by any means including air or water
spreading
Contagious is medically specific about disease transmission, while spreading is vague and could refer to any phenomenon expanding
communicable
Contagious emphasizes ease of transmission through casual contact, while communicable is a more formal medical term without implying how readily it spreads
Usage tip
Use literally for infectious diseases or metaphorically for emotions, behaviors, and attitudes that spread socially.
Etymology
Latin 'contagiosus' meaning 'communicable by contact', from 'contingere' (to touch)
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Related words
affliction
A condition causing pain or suffering
malady
A disease or ailment affecting physical or mental health
regimen
A prescribed course of treatment, diet, or exercise
immunize
Protect against disease or negative influence
preventative
Designed to stop something from happening before it occurs
symptom
A physical or mental feature indicating a condition or problem