great plague: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “great plague” mean?
A major, highly fatal epidemic of bubonic plague that devastated a significant population, most notably in Europe in the 17th century.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major, highly fatal epidemic of bubonic plague that devastated a significant population, most notably in Europe in the 17th century.
Any catastrophic, widespread epidemic, often used as a historical reference point for large-scale public health disasters. Can function metaphorically to describe any pervasive, destructive phenomenon.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is the primary term for the 1665–66 London epidemic. In American English, the term is understood but 'bubonic plague' or 'Black Death' (the latter for the 14th-century pandemic) may be more common general references.
Connotations
Both carry strong historical and catastrophic connotations. In the UK, it has a more specific national historical resonance.
Frequency
Far more frequent in UK English, particularly in historical and educational contexts. Lower frequency in US English, appearing mainly in world history texts.
Grammar
How to Use “great plague” in a Sentence
The Great Plague [VERB] (e.g., killed, swept, raged, struck, devastated).During/After/Before the Great Plague...the Great Plague of [LOCATION/DATE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The data breach was a great plague on the company's reputation.'
Academic
Standard term in history and epidemiology for the 1665–66 epidemic. 'The economic impacts of the Great Plague are studied through parish records.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except in historical discussion. 'We learned about the Great Plague at school.'
Technical
In historical epidemiology, specifies the last major outbreak of bubonic plague in England.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great plague”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great plague”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great plague”
- Using 'Great Plague' to refer to the 14th-century Black Death (common but imprecise).
- Omitting the definite article 'the' when referring to the specific historical event.
- Misspelling as 'Great Plage'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The 'Black Death' primarily refers to the catastrophic pandemic of the mid-14th century. The 'Great Plague' (or 'Great Plague of London') specifically denotes the major outbreak in England in 1665–66.
'Great' here denotes the scale, severity, and historical significance of the outbreak, not a positive quality. It means 'major' or 'immense' in its impact.
Yes, but usually metaphorically or in historical comparison. For example: 'The opioid crisis has been described as a great plague on modern society.' In literal terms, modern outbreaks are not typically named this way.
The epidemic subsided significantly after the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed many rat-infested slum areas. However, a combination of mortality, some quarantine measures, and possibly climatic factors also contributed.
A major, highly fatal epidemic of bubonic plague that devastated a significant population, most notably in Europe in the 17th century.
Great plague is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Great plague: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈpleɪɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈpleɪɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Nothing specific; term is itself historical.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'GREAT' loss: Graves Rapidly Expanding Across Towns.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PLAGUE IS A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE / A PLAGUE IS A DARK CLOUD / A PLAGUE IS A PURGING FIRE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Great Plague' most specifically associated with?