contagion

Meaning

The spread of a disease by contact; figuratively, the rapid transmission of an influence, emotion, or crisis.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin contagio, a touching or contact, from contingere, to touch closely, from con, with, plus tangere, to touch.

Synonyms

transmission spread infection proliferation

Antonyms

containment isolation quarantine immunity

Example Sentence

"Regulators watched anxiously for financial contagion as the collapse of one lender threatened to spread panic across the sector."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Works literally in GS2 health answers and figuratively in GS3 economy answers on systemic risk. Use it to describe cascading crises, for example, 'ring-fencing weak banks is essential to prevent contagion across the financial system.'

Relevant Subjects

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