Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

syndemic

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: syn-dem-ic
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An aggregation of two or more diseases that interact synergistically within a population.

adj

Describing such a situation

Example Sentences

"In sum malnutrition, infectious disease, and cognitive impairment constitute a syndemic that is rooted in and perpetuates suboptimal social, political, and economic conditions."
"The aggregation of these diseases on a background of social and economic disparity exacerbates the adverse effects of each separate disease. COVID-19 is not a pandemic. It is a syndemic."
"The syndemic nature of the threat we face means that a more nuanced approach is needed if we are to protect the health of our communities."

Etymology

Coined by Merrill Singer in the mid-1990s. Blend of synergy + demic (“of a population”). Compare epidemic (literally “upon the people”).

Inflected Forms

syndemics (plural)

Derived Forms

syndemically

Frequently Paired Words

epidemic pandemic

Rhymes With

academic non-academic epidemic systemic pandemic endemic near-endemic polemic epistemic anthemic totemic racemic

Questions

What does syndemic mean?: An aggregation of two or more diseases that interact synergistically within a population.
Where does syndemic come from?: Coined by Merrill Singer in the mid-1990s. Blend of synergy + demic (“of a population”). Compare epidemic (literally “upon the people”).

How to pronounce syndemic

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