anti-contagious
|an-ti-con-ta-gious|
/ˌæn.ti.kənˈteɪ.dʒəs/
against spreading disease
Etymology
'anti-contagious' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (originating from Greek 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against') combined with 'contagious' (originating from Latin 'contagiosus', from 'contagio' meaning 'a touching, contact').
'contagious' changed from Latin 'contagiosus' into Old French 'contagieux' and then became Middle/Modern English 'contagious'; the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) was later attached in Modern English compounds to mean 'against' + the existing adjective 'contagious', producing 'anti-contagious' as a compound.
Originally, 'contagious' meant 'relating to touch or contact' in Latin and evolved to mean 'capable of transmitting disease'; with the prefix 'anti-' attached in modern coinage, 'anti-contagious' came to mean 'against the spread of contagion' or, less commonly, 'not contagious'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
acting to prevent the spread of contagious disease; opposing contagion (used of measures, devices, or behaviors).
The clinic implemented anti-contagious protocols to limit transmission among patients.
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Adjective 2
not contagious; not capable of being transmitted from one person to another (less common usage).
In rare descriptions, some conditions were described as anti-contagious rather than contagious.
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Last updated: 2025/10/22 22:21