CONTAGIOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contagious mean? 

• CONTAGIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective CONTAGIOUS has 2 senses:

1. easily diffused or spread as from one person to another

2. (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection

  Familiarity information: CONTAGIOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTAGIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Easily diffused or spread as from one person to another

Context example:

a contagious grin

Similar:

infectious (easily spread)

Derivation:

contagion (the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection

Synonyms:

catching; communicable; contagious; contractable; transmissible; transmittable

Similar:

infectious (easily spread)

Derivation:

contagion (an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted)

contagion (any disease easily transmitted by contact)

 Context examples 

A contagious bacterial infection caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira.

(Leptospirosis, NCI Thesaurus)

The virus that causes measles (a highly contagious disease marked by fever, cough, and raised red spots on the skin).

(Measles virus, NCI Dictionary)

A contagious viral infection caused by the mumps virus.

(Mumps, NCI Thesaurus)

Cold sores are caused by a contagious virus called herpes simplex.

(Cold Sores, NIH)

A contagious disease of horses that can be transmitted to humans.

(Glanders, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human.

(H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A contagious bacterial cutaneous infection that affects children and is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

(Impetigo, NCI Thesaurus)

It is highly contagious and usually contracted through close contact with an infected individual or their feces, contaminated food or water.

(Hepatitis A Infection, NCI Thesaurus)

Late yaws is the tertiary, non-contagious stage of yaws, endemic tropical treponemal nonvenereal infection.

(Late Yaws, NCI Thesaurus)

It is highly contagious and spreads mainly through coughing and sneezing.

(H1N1 Influenza, NCI Thesaurus)