Communicable Meaning in English

word

US

kəmˈjunəkəbəɫ

kuh-MYOO-nih-kuh-buhl

UK

kəmjˈuːnɪkəbəl

kuh-MYOO-nih-kuh-buhl

Definition

Able to be passed or spread from one person, animal, or thing to another, especially referring to diseases.

Usage & Nuances

'Communicable' is typically used in medical or scientific contexts to describe diseases that can spread, like 'communicable diseases'. Not used for ideas or non-medical things; for information we use 'communicable' only rarely and usually say 'can be communicated.' Common collocation: 'communicable disease'.

• Spanish: contagioso - transmisible
• Portuguese (BR): contagioso - transmissível
• Portuguese (PT): contagioso - transmissível
• Chinese (Simplified): 传染性的 - 可传播的
• Chinese (Traditional): 傳染性的 - 可傳播的
• Hindi: संचारी - संक्रामक
• Arabic: مُعْدٍ - قابل للانتقال
• Bengali: সংক্রামক
• Russian: заразный
• Japanese: 感染性の
• Vietnamese: lây nhiễm
• Korean: 전염성의
• Turkish: bulaşıcı
• Urdu: متعدی
• Indonesian: menular

Example Sentences

Flu is a communicable disease.

basic

A communicable illness can spread quickly.

basic

Is tuberculosis communicable?

basic

COVID-19 is highly communicable in crowded places.

natural

Doctors warn that the virus is more communicable than they first thought.

natural

Some communicable diseases can be prevented by vaccination.

natural