Definition of PESTILENCE

pestilence

Plural: pestilences

Noun

  • a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
  • any epidemic disease with a high death rate
  • a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
    • "racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation"
  • Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.
  • Anything harmful to morals or public order.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pestilentia (“plague”), from pestilens (“infected, unwholesome, noxious”); equivalent to pestilent + -ence.

Scrabble Score: 14

pestilence: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
pestilence: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
pestilence: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

pestilence: valid Words With Friends Word