noun

epidemic

epidemic, outbreak

The city is facing a flu epidemic.

The city is facing a flu epidemic.

There is an epidemic of youth unemployment.

There is an epidemic of youth unemployment.

an epidemic of ((sth.)) a widespread occurrence of (sth.) There is an epidemic of knife crime in the city.

Synonyms: outbreak, plague, pandemic.

From Greek 'epi-' (upon) + 'dēmos' (people). A disease that is 'upon the people'.

Think of 'epi-' as 'over' and 'dem-' as 'people' – a disease spreading over the people.

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