French Conversation · Level 120
57 words
French word
contagion
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃taʒjɔ̃/
Meaning
- feminine nouninfection
Example
La contagion s'est propagée rapidement.
The infection spread rapidly.
More examples
La contagion est évitée par la vaccination.
Contagion is prevented by vaccination.
Core concept
A chain of infection passing from one person to the next through touch, droplets, or contaminated objects.
Common phrases
risque de contagion
risk of contagion
mode de contagion
mode of contagion
Similar words
infection: The entry of a pathogen into the body, causing illness.
contamination: The presence of a pathogen or dirt on an object, place, or body surface.
transmission: The transfer of a pathogen through people or objects to another person or place.
épidémie: A rapid rise in cases of the same disease within a region.
Definition in French
Transmission d'une infection d'un individu à un autre, généralement par contact direct, par gouttelettes ou par des objets contaminés.
Word origin
The noun comes from Latin contagio, meaning contact or infection, from contingere, built on con- and tangere, 'to touch'.
Usage tips
- Contagion is feminine, so standard phrasing uses la contagion and cette contagion.
Other meanings
- contagionnoun
- transmissionnoun
Opposites
- immunitéimmunitynoun
Related words
- contagieuxcontagiousadjective
- contagiositécontagiousnessnoun