"plague" vs "pestilence"

Question

"plague" vs "pestilence"

Both 'plague' and 'pestilence' are correct terms used to refer to a deadly epidemic disease. They are comparable as they are synonyms often used interchangeably in English.

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

The term 'plague' can be used to describe a widespread and deadly disease outbreak, such as the bubonic plague in history.

Examples:

The Black Death was a devastating plague that swept through Europe in the 14th century.
The plague of cholera claimed many lives in the 19th century.
The village was quarantined due to an outbreak of plague.
The doctor warned of the dangers of the plague spreading further.
The government took measures to contain the plague.

Alternatives:

epidemic
outbreak
pandemic
infectious disease
health crisis

The term 'pestilence' can be used to describe a deadly epidemic disease, especially in a literary or religious context.

Examples:

The Bible speaks of pestilence as one of the plagues in the Book of Exodus.
The land was struck by a pestilence that wiped out entire villages.
The poet described the pestilence that ravaged the countryside.
The ancient city was decimated by a pestilence.
The prophet warned of a coming pestilence if the people did not repent.

Alternatives:

plague
epidemic
outbreak
pandemic
infectious disease

Answer 1

plague

The term 'plague' refers to a highly infectious, usually fatal, epidemic disease. It is commonly used in English.

Answer 2

pestilence

The term 'pestilence' also refers to a fatal epidemic disease, often used in a biblical or poetic context. It is less commonly used in everyday language.

"plague" vs "pestilence"

plague

pestilence

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