Epidemic vs Misfortune - What's the difference?
epidemic | misfortune |
A widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.
(epidemiology) An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period.
Like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread
* 2003 , James C. Howell, Preventing & Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: A Comprehensive Framework , SAGE Publications, ISBN 978-0-7619-2509-5,
(uncountable) bad luck
* 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited,
(countable) an undesirable event such as an accident
* 1839 , Charles Robert Darwin,
As nouns the difference between epidemic and misfortune
is that epidemic is a widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population while misfortune is bad luck.As an adjective epidemic
is like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread.epidemic
English
(wikipedia epidemic)Alternative forms
* epidemick (obsolete)Noun
(en noun)Antonyms
* endemicAdjective
(en adjective)- Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent’s reelection.
page 19:
- This proportion increased about 5% from 1988 to 1992—hardly a change of epidemic proportions.
Antonyms
* endemicSee also
* epizootic * enzooticAnagrams
*misfortune
English
Noun
Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
- Cycling's complex etiquette contains an unwritten rule that riders in contention for a race win should not be penalised for sheer misfortune .
- The worst tour I have ever had the misfortune to experience.
- It was my fortune, or misfortune , to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training. - Ulysses S. Grant
The Voyage of the Beagle., Chapter X
- The snowstorm, which was the cause of their misfortune , happened in the middle of January, corresponding to our July, and in the latitude of Durham!
- She had to come to terms with a number of misfortunes .