epidemic meningitis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Medical / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “epidemic meningitis” mean?
A sudden widespread outbreak of the inflammatory disease of the meninges in a community.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden widespread outbreak of the inflammatory disease of the meninges in a community.
An occurrence of bacterial or viral meningitis that spreads rapidly and affects a significantly higher number of people than expected in a specific population and time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms follows regional conventions (e.g., 'organisation' vs. 'organization' in public health contexts).
Connotations
Identical serious medical and public health connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Frequency is tied to news reports of outbreaks; equally rare in general discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “epidemic meningitis” in a Sentence
[Public health authorities] declared an epidemic meningitis in [region].An outbreak of epidemic meningitis has affected [population].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “epidemic meningitis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region is currently meningitising at an alarming rate. (Note: Extremely rare/non-standard)
American English
- The area is experiencing a meningitising outbreak. (Note: Extremely rare/non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The epidemic meningitis situation required immediate intervention.
American English
- The epidemic meningitis outbreak was declared a public health emergency.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in travel industry warnings or insurance contexts.
Academic
Frequent in epidemiology, public health, and medical journal articles.
Everyday
Very rare; used only in news reports about major health crises.
Technical
Precise term in medical diagnostics, virology/bacteriology, and disease surveillance reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “epidemic meningitis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “epidemic meningitis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “epidemic meningitis”
- Using 'epidemic' as an adjective for meningitis when referring to a single case (e.g., 'He has epidemic meningitis').
- Confusing 'epidemic' with 'endemic' or 'pandemic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it refers to the pattern of spread (an epidemic) of meningitis, which can be caused by various bacteria or viruses, most commonly Neisseria meningitidis.
Yes, if the meningitis outbreak spreads across multiple countries or continents, it could be classified as a pandemic, though the term 'meningococcal pandemic' is more precise.
Key responses include rapid case identification, contact tracing, prophylactic antibiotic treatment for close contacts, and mass vaccination campaigns if a vaccine-preventable strain is involved.
'Seasonal' implies a predictable, recurring pattern at certain times of the year. 'Epidemic' implies an unexpected, sharp rise in cases exceeding the baseline or seasonal expectation.
A sudden widespread outbreak of the inflammatory disease of the meninges in a community.
Epidemic meningitis is usually formal / medical / journalistic in register.
Epidemic meningitis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛpəˈdɛmɪk ˌmɛnənˈdʒaɪtəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A meningitis alert was issued.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EPI (upon) + DEMIC (people) -> disease upon the people + MENINGES (brain membrane) + ITIS (inflammation).
Conceptual Metaphor
A FIRE metaphor is common: 'spark an epidemic', 'outbreak', 'contain the spread'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary factor distinguishing 'epidemic meningitis' from regular meningitis cases?