foot-and-mouth disease: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “foot-and-mouth disease” mean?
A highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, characterized by fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, characterized by fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet.
In general use, the term can refer metaphorically to a contagious situation causing disruption or panic, often in business or political contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical and equally standard in both varieties. In the US, the alternative name 'hoof-and-mouth disease' is also recognized, though less common.
Connotations
Strongly associated with major agricultural crises, e.g., the 2001 UK outbreak. Carries connotations of economic damage, culling of livestock, and rural hardship.
Frequency
Frequency spikes dramatically during agricultural disease outbreaks, otherwise remains low-frequency technical vocabulary.
Grammar
How to Use “foot-and-mouth disease” in a Sentence
There was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.The farm was quarantined due to foot-and-mouth disease.Authorities are battling to contain foot-and-mouth disease.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foot-and-mouth disease” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farm was foot-and-mouthed, leading to a massive cull.
- Authorities acted swiftly to prevent the disease from foot-and-mouthing the entire region.
American English
- The herd was depopulated after being foot-and-mouthed.
- The state worked to stop the virus from foot-and-mouthing neighboring counties.
adjective
British English
- The foot-and-mouth crisis devastated the farming community.
- A foot-and-mouth exclusion zone was established.
American English
- The foot-and-mouth outbreak triggered an export embargo.
- Foot-and-mouth surveillance was increased at the border.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports on agricultural markets, export bans, and economic impacts.
Academic
Common in veterinary science, virology, epidemiology, and agricultural economics papers.
Everyday
Used in news reports during outbreaks; otherwise rarely used in casual conversation.
Technical
Precise term in veterinary medicine for the specific disease caused by Aphthovirus.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foot-and-mouth disease”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foot-and-mouth disease”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foot-and-mouth disease”
- Omitting hyphens (e.g., 'foot and mouth disease')
- Confusing it with 'hand, foot and mouth disease' (a different, human childhood illness).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not considered a zoonotic disease that infects humans under normal circumstances. The similarly named 'hand, foot and mouth disease' is a different virus that affects people, primarily children.
Cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer are the primary hosts.
It is highly contagious, causes significant animal suffering and economic loss due to trade restrictions, and is costly and logistically challenging to control, often requiring large-scale culling.
Yes, vaccines exist and are used in many parts of the world. However, some disease-free countries (like the UK and US) do not routinely vaccinate because it can mask infection and complicate international trade agreements.
A highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, characterized by fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet.
Foot-and-mouth disease is usually technical / formal in register.
Foot-and-mouth disease: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfʊt ən(d) ˈmaʊθ dɪˌziːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfʊt ən(d) ˈmaʊθ dɪˌziːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spread like foot-and-mouth disease (metaphorical for rapid, uncontrolled dissemination)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the symptoms: it affects the FOOT (lameness) AND the MOUTH (blisters), causing DISEASE.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAGION IS FIRE / CONTAGION IS A PLAGUE (e.g., 'fighting the outbreak', 'containing the spread').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common mistake associated with the term 'foot-and-mouth disease'?