contagious

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ UK /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #9467

Meanings

1

adj
capable of being transmitted from one person or organism to another, especially through direct or indirect contact

Chickenpox is highly contagious before the rash fully appears.
2

adj
likely to spread quickly from person to person as an emotion, attitude, or behavior

Her contagious enthusiasm soon energized the whole team.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · capable of being... infectious communicable transmissible

2 adj · likely to spread quickly... infectious catching

Opposites

noncontagiousnoninfectiousnontransmissible

Word family

Derived forms contagioncontagiouslycontagiousness

Related forms contact infect transmit

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

contagious abortion
an infectious disease in livestock that can cause pregnancy loss

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Courtesy is contagious

Etymology

From Old French contagieus and Late Latin contagiosus, from Latin contagio ("contact, infection"). The figurative sense treats feelings and behavior as if they could pass between people like disease.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# contagious

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /kənˈteɪdʒəs/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈteɪdʒəs/
**Frequency rank:** 9467

## Meanings
1. capable of being transmitted from one person or organism to another, especially through direct or indirect contact
2. likely to spread quickly from person to person as an emotion, attitude, or behavior

## Examples
- Chickenpox is highly contagious before the rash fully appears.
- Her contagious enthusiasm soon energized the whole team.

## Synonyms
- infectious
- communicable
- transmissible
- catching

## Antonyms
- noncontagious
- noninfectious
- nontransmissible

## Derived Forms
- contagion
- contagiously
- contagiousness

## Related Forms
- contact
- infect
- transmit

## Etymology
From Old French contagieus and Late Latin contagiosus, from Latin contagio ("contact, infection"). The figurative sense treats feelings and behavior as if they could pass between people like disease.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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