plague
C1formal, historical, literary, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A serious, infectious disease that causes high death rates; a destructive, pervasive affliction.
Any widespread cause of misery, destruction, or annoyance; a persistent, harmful phenomenon or person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically refers to bubonic plague (the Black Death). In modern use, it often serves as a powerful metaphor for any widespread evil or nuisance. Carries strong negative connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'the Plague' historically. Slight preference for 'plague' as a verb in UK English in metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'plagued by doubts').
Connotations
Equally strong negative historical and metaphorical weight in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; slightly higher in UK English in historical/academic contexts due to European history.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
plague [sb/sth] with [sth]be plagued by [sth][sth] plagues [place/group]a plague of [pests/problems]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Avoid something/someone like the plague”
- “A plague on both your houses”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The company was plagued by supply chain issues.'
Academic
Historical/medical: 'The Justinian Plague devastated the Byzantine Empire.'
Everyday
Hyperbolic/metaphorical: 'A plague of wasps ruined the picnic.' 'I'm plagued by spam calls.'
Technical
Epidemiology/entomology: 'Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis.' 'A plague of cicadas emerges every 17 years.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Doubt plagued his mind throughout the night.
- The region has been plagued by flooding for decades.
- He was plagued with guilt after the argument.
American English
- Technical issues plagued the software launch.
- The team has been plagued by injuries this season.
- Fears of recession plague the markets.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form ('plagueingly' is extremely rare and non-standard).
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The plague doctor's mask was a haunting sight.
- They studied the plague years in detail.
- Plague rats were blamed for the spread.
American English
- Plague vaccines are under development.
- The plague outbreak was contained quickly.
- She wrote a novel set in a plague-ravaged city.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- People long ago were very afraid of the plague.
- Flies can be a plague in summer.
- The story is about a town hit by a plague.
- My computer is plagued by constant errors.
- A plague of ants invaded our kitchen.
- The economic policies were a plague on the working class.
- The journalist was plagued by accusations of bias.
- Medieval plague doctors wore strange masks for protection.
- The novel uses the plague as a metaphor for societal corruption.
- The regime was plagued by internal dissent and external pressure.
- His career was tragically plagued by a series of unforeseen setbacks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PLASTIC (pla-) BUG (-gue) spreading a terrible disease. A plague is like a destructive bug affecting everyone.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE DISEASES / A PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS A PLAGUE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'чума' (plague) and 'нашествие' (invasion/swarm). 'Plague of journalists' is metaphorical, not literal. 'Avoid like the plague' is an idiom, not medical advice.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'plague' for a minor, one-off annoyance. Confusing 'plague' (disease) with 'plaqué' (ornamental coating). Incorrect: 'I have a plague of headache.' Correct: 'I am plagued by headaches.'
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'plague' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, bubonic plague still occurs in sporadic cases, primarily in rural areas, but it is now treatable with antibiotics.
Absolutely. It is commonly used metaphorically for any pervasive source of trouble, e.g., 'a plague of vandalism,' 'plagued by debt.'
'Plague' specifically refers to the bacterial disease or serves as a strong metaphor. 'Epidemic' is a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community. 'Pandemic' is an epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents.
It can be insensitive if used lightly in contexts directly related to historical tragedies (e.g., the Black Death). In general metaphorical use (e.g., 'plagued by delays'), it is standard but carries a tone of serious complaint.