pestilence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1-C2 vocabulary)Literary/Formal/Historical
Quick answer
What does “pestilence” mean?
A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague
Any destructive, morally corrupting, or pernicious influence that spreads widely and causes great harm
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences; equally literary/archaic in both varieties
Connotations
Identical - evokes medieval plagues, Biblical references, and metaphorical corruption
Frequency
Equally rare in modern speech in both varieties; slightly more likely in British historical texts due to European plague history
Grammar
How to Use “pestilence” in a Sentence
Pestilence + verb (spread/ravage/strike)Adjective + pestilencePestilence + prepositional phrase (of corruption)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pestilence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The village was pestilenced by the outbreak
American English
- The corruption pestilenced the entire organisation
adverb
British English
- The disease spread pestilentially through the crowded streets
American English
- The rumor circulated pestilentially throughout the community
adjective
British English
- The pestilential air of the swamp spread disease
American English
- His pestilential influence corrupted the whole team
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The corruption was a pestilence on the industry'
Academic
Historical studies: 'The Black Death was the great pestilence of the 14th century'
Everyday
Rare except in dramatic metaphors: 'Gossip spread through the office like a pestilence'
Technical
Medical history: 'Historical accounts of pestilence mortality rates'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pestilence”
- Using for minor illnesses
- Confusing with 'pesticide' or 'pest'
- Using in modern medical contexts
- Misspelling as 'pestilance'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Pestilence is more literary/historical and implies greater mortality. Pandemic is a modern technical term for global spread regardless of severity
Only in highly dramatic/literary contexts. In standard usage, it would sound archaic or exaggerated
Plague specifically refers to Yersinia pestis bacteria. Pestilence can refer to any deadly epidemic disease, especially in historical contexts
No. It always carries negative connotations of widespread death, destruction, or moral decay
A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
Pestilence is usually literary/formal/historical in register.
Pestilence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpestɪləns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpestələns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pestilence upon you (archaic curse)”
- “A pestilence in the land”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PEST + SILENCE → When pestilence strikes, pests (rats) bring disease, and then silence (death) follows
Conceptual Metaphor
EVIL IS A DISEASE / CORRUPTION IS A CONTAGION
Practice
Quiz
Which context is LEAST appropriate for 'pestilence'?