: an organism that is restricted or peculiar to a locality or region : an endemic organism
Did you know?
If you translate it literally, endemic means "in the population." It derives from the Greek endēmos, which joins en, meaning "in," and dēmos, meaning "population." "Endemic" is often used to characterize diseases that are generally found in a particular area; malaria, for example, is said to be endemic to tropical and subtropical regions. This use differs from that of the related word epidemic in that it indicates a more or less constant presence in a particular population or area rather than a sudden, severe outbreak within that region or group. The word is also used by biologists to characterize the plant and animal species that are only found in a given area.
aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.
the aboriginal peoples of Australia
Example Sentences
AdjectiveDivorce has become so endemic in our society that a whole lore has risen up around it: that divorce is a temporary crisis; that so many children have experienced their parents' divorce that children nowadays do not worry much about it; that in fact it makes things easier, and it is itself a mere rite of passage; that if the parents feel better, so will the children. Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002Situated only 250 miles off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is biologically unique. Not only does it have a rich animal and plant life, it also houses a huge number of endemic species found nowhere else on earth. Jim Milliot et al., Publishers Weekly, 15 May 2000The rap performers I enjoy are those who emphasize production values, songcraft and that quality of playfulness endemic to all good pop. Francis Davis, Atlantic, October 1993 the fish is not an endemic species of the lake, and it is rapidly devouring the native trout population
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The disease is endemic to certain regions of Africa, which have experienced several smaller outbreaks in recent years that have not received much international attention. Madeline Halpert, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 It was first documented in a human in 1970 and was previously only endemic to countries in Central and West Africa. Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 14 July 2022 The happy hour culture is endemic to many organizations, says Laura Silverman, who runs Zero Proof Nation, a community platform that showcases alcohol-free products, events, and experiences around the country. Jane Thier, Fortune, 6 June 2022 The virus is endemic to Central Africa, but Nigeria, far to the west, had not recorded a case of monkeypox since 1978. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 June 2022 What disease, which is endemic to central and western Africa, made headlines this week because some cases are appearing in countries that don't commonly see it?CNN, 26 May 2022 The virus that causes monkeypox, which is endemic to 12 countries in West and Central Africa, is transmitted via close contact with an infected person or material. Alexandra Ossola, Quartz, 25 May 2022 Monkeypox is a DNA virus related to smallpox that infects animals and is endemic to forested areas of Central and West Africa. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 May 2022 Nashville is currently working on breeding and conserving the species, which is endemic to Madagascar. Breanna Bell, PEOPLE.com, 16 May 2022
Noun
The current monkeypox outbreak, 41,000 cases and growing, is the first major outbreak outside of West and Central Africa — where the disease is endemic — since 2003. David Axe, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2022 The outbreak resulted in 2 deaths and 59 cases of paralysis, and occurred 14 years after the country’s last endemic case of polio. Heidi Ledford, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2022 Other governments are already preparing to treat COVID more like other endemic diseases. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2022 Outside of these endemic settings, not much is known about how and why cases can turn severe. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 The policy has led to waves of nationwide protests, demanding accountability for the country’s dynastic political class and an end to endemic corruption. Suzan Haidamous, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 Compared to the endemic skateboarding communities on the West Coast and East Coast, anchored by L.A. and New York, Midwest skateboarding hasn’t always enjoyed its fair share of time in the sun. Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Moderna anticipates moving into the endemic phase next year, where demand for shots will vary based on the season, the company said in its earnings presentation. Angelica Peebles, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Covid-19 as an endemic, and now, in 2022, leaders are facing a multitude of other pressures—global inflation and other macroeconomic factors, social and geopolitical unrest, climate concerns, hybrid work, and more. Gina Mastantuono, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from French & New Latin; French endémique, borrowed from New Latin endēmicus, from Medieval Latin *endēmia "disease fixed in one locality" + New Latin -icus-ic entry 1; Medieval Latin *endēmia, probably from Greek éndēmos "at home, living in a place, native, confined to one area (of a disease, in galen)" (from en-en- entry 2 + -dēmos, adjective derivative of dêmos "district, country, people") on the model of epidēmia "disease affecting a large number of individuals" — more at demo-, epidemic entry 1
Note: Medieval Latin *endēmia is presumed on the basis of Middle French endemie, occurring in Thomas Le Forestier's Le regime contre epidimie et pestilence (Rouen, 1495) (see Revue de linguistique romane, vol. 36 [1972], p. 231).