pandemic

Everyday

1. A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious disease that spreads across many countries or the whole world and makes very many people ill. tree →
2. As an adjective, pandemic means spreading everywhere. tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons, the COVID-19 pandemic is a recent example: schools closed, people wore masks, and vaccines were made. In history, the Black Death and the great flu after the First World War were pandemics. An «epidemic» is a big outbreak in one area; a pandemic is worldwide.

Examples

• The COVID-19 pandemic closed schools around the world. tree →
• During the pandemic we learnt at home. tree →
• The Black Death was a terrible pandemic. tree →
• Washing hands helps slow down a pandemic. tree →
• Scientists made vaccines during the pandemic. tree →
• A pandemic spreads to many countries. tree →
• Grandma remembers the pandemic lockdowns. tree →

Note

Countable: pandemics. Trap: «pandemic» (worldwide) vs «epidemic» (one region) vs «endemic» (always present in a place). «Pan-» means «all», as in «panorama».