# epidemic

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/ · frequency rank #9,601

## Definitions
1. A widespread disease that affects many humans in a population.
2. An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a human population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period; an episode of outbreak and subsequent high prevalence.
3. A heightened occurrence of anything harmful.
4. The spreading of an idea or belief amongst a population.

## Etymology
From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, reanalysis of plural Late Latin epidēmia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidḗmios), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + δῆμος (dêmos, “people”). By surface analysis, epi- (“on”) + demic (“of the people”).

## Easily confused with
- **epidermis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/epidemic-vs-epidermis)
- **epistemic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/epidemic-vs-epistemic)
- **endemic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/endemic-vs-epidemic)

## Common misspellings (11)
`eipdemic`, `epdiemic`, `epiddemic`, `epideimc`, `epidemci`, `epidemicc`, `epidemmic`, `epidmeic`, `epiedmic`, `eppidemic`, `peidemic`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/epidemic