IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
epidemic
noun/ˌepɪˈdemɪk/Band 7
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
“epidemic” is a Band 7 noun that means a widespread occurrence of a disease, or a rapid rise in something harmful. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
A widespread occurrence of a disease, or a rapid rise in something harmful.
Example sentences
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “The country is battling a flu epidemic.”
- “Some experts describe obesity as an epidemic.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
outbreakplague
Collocations & common phrases
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
Collocations
flu epidemicobesity epidemiccontain an epidemic
Common phrases
reach epidemic proportions
Related words
Explore more vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What does “epidemic” mean?
A widespread occurrence of a disease, or a rapid rise in something harmful.
How do you use “epidemic” in a sentence?
For example: “The country is battling a flu epidemic.”
What are some synonyms for “epidemic”?
Synonyms include outbreak, plague.
Is “epidemic” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 7 vocabulary, and collocations such as flu epidemic, obesity epidemic, contain an epidemic help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.
Next step
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