Meaning
Contagious means capable of spreading from one person (or organism) to another, usually through direct or indirect contact. It is commonly used for diseases but can also describe emotions or behaviors that spread quickly among people.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Adjective
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Typical patterns:
- contagious disease/virus/flu
- Her laughter is contagious.
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Used both in medical and figurative contexts.
Common Phrases
- contagious disease
- highly contagious
- contagious laughter
- contagious enthusiasm
Collocations
- Adjective + Noun: contagious disease, contagious illness, contagious laughter
- Verb + Adjective: become contagious, prove contagious
- Adverb + Adjective: highly contagious, extremely contagious
Examples
- The flu is highly contagious and spreads quickly in crowded places.
- Chickenpox is a contagious disease common among children.
- Her smile was so contagious that everyone in the room began to grin.
- The excitement at the concert was contagious.
- Be careful; that infection is still contagious.
- His enthusiasm for the project turned out to be contagious.
- During the outbreak, authorities warned people about the contagious virus.
- Laughter can be contagious in a cheerful group.
Synonyms or Related
- Infectious
- Transmittable
- Communicable
- Catching
- Spreading