1. Plural of epidemic; widespread occurrences of disease affecting many people in a community or region at the same time.
Usage: Countable noun; typically used in medical, public health, and historical contexts.
2. Plural of epidemic; rapid spread or sudden occurrence of something undesirable or unwanted in large numbers.
Usage: Figurative use; applied to social, behavioral, or other non-medical phenomena.

Examples

• The city experienced multiple epidemics of influenza throughout the 20th century.
• Public health officials worked to contain the epidemics by implementing vaccination programs.
• Historical records document devastating epidemics that wiped out entire populations.
• The rise of social media has led to epidemics of misinformation spreading rapidly online.
• Epidemics of obesity and diabetes are major health concerns in developed nations.
• During the pandemic, scientists studied how past epidemics were managed.
• The epidemics of the 1800s prompted major reforms in sanitation and medicine.