contagious
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈtā-jəs/ (ame, mw)
contagious — adjective
- contagiouspositive
- more contagiouscomparative
- most contagioussuperlative
1. describes a disease that passes from one person to another through touch, coughi
describes a disease that passes from one person to another through touch, coughing, sneezing, or contact with a surface that an infected person has used.
Élise stayed home from school because her cold was highly contagious.
be + highly contagious (intensifier pattern)
The nurse warned us that flu viruses are especially contagious in closed rooms.
Wash your hands often — some contagious diseases live on surfaces for hours.
Tanvi's doctor said the rash was not contagious, so she could go back to work.
- infectious
broader term — covers all pathogen-caused diseases, including those that spread through air, water, or food, not just contact
- communicable
more formal; used in public-health contexts about diseases that can be passed between hosts
- transmissible
most technical; can apply to diseases, genes, or traits passed from one organism to another
- catching
informal, conversational — 'Is it catching?' is a common everyday question
- non-contagious
a disease that cannot spread between people
- non-infectious
cannot be passed on at all, e.g. a genetic condition
文法句型
contagious + noun (disease, virus, illness)
be + contagious
remain/stay + contagious
用法筆記
Contagious refers specifically to diseases that spread through physical contact or close proximity. It is narrower than 'infectious' — all contagious diseases are infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious (e.g. tetanus is infectious but cannot spread between people).
常見錯誤
2. describes a person who has a sickness that others nearby may pick up through tou
describes a person who has a sickness that others nearby may pick up through touch or close contact.
Folake was told she would stay contagious for a week after the fever went away.
stay + contagious (linking verb)
The daycare asked parents to keep contagious children at home until they recover.
attributive: contagious + noun (children)
Imani felt much better but the doctor said she was still contagious.
Beatrix wore a mask because she knew she might be contagious after visiting the clinic.
- infectious
can also describe a person carrying a disease, though 'contagious' is preferred for contact-spread
- sick
much broader and less precise; a sick person may or may not be contagious
- non-contagious
the person can no longer pass the disease to others
- recovered
no longer carrying the disease at all
文法句型
be + contagious
remain/stay + contagious
still + contagious
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used predicatively (after 'be,' 'remain,' 'stay'). When used attributively before a noun, it typically modifies 'person,' 'patient,' or 'child' — e.g. 'contagious patients.'
常見錯誤
3. describes a feeling or way of behaving that passes rapidly between people, causi
describes a feeling or way of behaving that passes rapidly between people, causing others to share the same emotion or action.
Jisoo's laughter was so contagious that soon the whole room was giggling.
be + contagious describing an emotion
The choir sang with contagious energy, and the audience began clapping along.
attributive: contagious + noun (energy)
Nicholas had a contagious smile that made everyone around him feel at ease.
The team's enthusiasm proved contagious, inspiring even the newest members to join in.
Adina noticed that her friend's calm mood was contagious during the stressful exam week.
- infectious
used almost interchangeably in this figurative sense, though 'contagious' is slightly more common for emotions
- spreading
describes the action directly but lacks the vivid metaphor of 'contagious'
- catching
informal — 'Her excitement is catching' means the same thing in casual speech
文法句型
contagious + noun (laughter, enthusiasm, smile)
be + contagious
prove + contagious
用法筆記
This figurative sense is very common in everyday English. It typically describes positive emotions (laughter, enthusiasm, joy, excitement) but can also apply to negative moods such as panic or fear. The literal medical sense does not apply.