Contagious
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Contagious means able to be passed from one person to another, often by touch, close contact, or through the air. It is most often used to talk about diseases but can also describe feelings or behaviors that spread easily between people.
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⚡ See It in Action
Able to spread disease from one person to another
- •The flu is highly contagious during the winter.
- •He stayed home because his cough was contagious.
- •Contagious diseases require careful hygiene to stop spreading.
Able to spread feelings or behaviors quickly among people
- •Her contagious smile made everyone feel happy.
- •Laughter is contagious in a fun group.
- •His enthusiasm for the project was contagious and motivated the team.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "contagious" like "catch" (A1 word) but for sickness or feelings—it means something can be caught from someone else
- ✓Picture a classroom where one child sneezes, and soon many children start sneezing too
- ✓It’s the feeling when laughter spreads quickly in a group, and everyone starts laughing without stopping
- ✓Sounds like "can-TAY-jus" → imagine a can that sprays something that spreads everywhere quickly
- ✓Think of movies where a virus spreads fast and many people get sick quickly—that is contagious disease
- ✓NOT like "alone" (does not spread)—contagious things move from person to person easily
- ✓NOT like "strong" (power level)—contagious means spreading, not how strong something is
- ✓NOT like "infected" (already sick)—contagious means able to spread to others, not just already sick
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Infectious: able to spread disease or feelings (Use when talking about diseases or emotions that spread easily)
- •Catching: easy to get from someone else (Use in informal speech about sickness or feelings)
- •Transmittable: able to be passed on (Use in medical or formal contexts)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "con-" (together) + "tag" (touch) + "-ious" (adjective ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin "contagiosus," meaning "touching closely, infectious"
- •Historical development: Originally used for diseases that spread by touch, now also used for feelings or behaviors that spread quickly
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in health, psychology, and everyday speech to describe things that spread easily from person to person
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can feelings be as contagious as diseases? How do emotions spread between people?
•What are some examples of contagious things in your daily life besides sickness?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The disease was contagious because it could ___ through the air when people cough or sneeze.
2.Her contagious laughter made the whole room ___ with joy.
3.Unlike a cold, some illnesses are not contagious and cannot be ___ to others.
4.When someone is contagious, it is important to ___ close contact to avoid spreading the sickness.
5.The teacher said that enthusiasm is contagious and can ___ others to work harder.
6.A contagious feeling usually spreads ___ and makes many people feel the same emotion.
7.If a sickness is contagious, doctors recommend ___ to stop it from spreading.