Pandemias

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease affecting a large geographic area and population
2. A situation where an epidemic, localized at first, spreads globally touching diverse communities
3. The occurrence of a disease that surpasses international borders, leading to significant health impacts across populations

Etymology: "Pandemias" is the plural of "pandemia," so its history is that of the singular form, which comes from Greek. "Pandemia" is built from "pan," meaning "all," and "demos," meaning "people" or "the common people," giving a sense of something that affects the whole populace. The Greek-derived term entered English as "pandemic," and "pandemia" survives as a Latinized or Greek-style form, which is why the plural keeps the "-ias" ending rather than the usual English "-s."

Synonyms: epidemics, outbreaks, contagions, plagues, diseases