Pandemic

noun; also adjective

/pænˈdɛmɪk/

An outbreak of an infectious disease that spreads across a wide geographical area — typically multiple countries or continents — and affects a significant proportion of the population.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the structural fragilities of India's public health architecture, compelling the State to reconcile its constitutional commitment to the right to health under Article 21 with the fiscal and federal constraints of a developing economy.

Synonyms

epidemicoutbreakcontagionplaguescourgepestilence

Antonyms

endemicsporadiclocalisedcontained

🌱 Word Family

pandemic (adj), pandemically (adv), pre-pandemic (adj), post-pandemic (adj)

🔡 Root

Greek pan- = all; dēmos = the people → pandēmos = of all the people; via Late Latin pandemicus

📜 Etymology

From Greek pandēmos (of all the people), from pan- (all) + dēmos (the people); first recorded in English in the 1660s.

🧠 Memory Hook

PAN (all) + DEM (people, as in "democracy") = a disease afflicting ALL the PEOPLE, everywhere at once.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2021 · GS3 · 15 marks — Indian Economy
Mains 2021 · GS4 · 20 marks — Ethics in Public Administration
Mains 2020 · GS1 · 10 marks — Indian Society
Mains 2020 · GS2 · 10 marks — International Relations

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Pandemic” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚗️ General Science 📖 Seen in: Health, Nutrition & Disease — Public H...

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