1. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
2. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon

1. of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic

Examples

• The flu epidemic spread rapidly through the school.
• Health officials worked to contain the cholera epidemic.
• There has been an epidemic of car thefts in the neighborhood.
• The opioid epidemic has affected communities nationwide.
• Epidemic diseases require immediate public health response.
• The region experienced epidemic levels of unemployment.
• Scientists study epidemic patterns to prevent future outbreaks.