Definition:
Pandemic is a term generally used to describe a worldwide outbreak of a disease. It is sometimes interchanged with the word epidemic, which refers to an outbreak, but is not necessarily worldwide.
Today, the word pandemic is most often associated with pandemic flu. There is increasing concern that the world is at risk for another serious outbreak of flu that could result in a pandemic.
Examples:
In 1918, there was an outbreak of the Spanish flu that resulted in a pandemic.
Source:
"Understanding Flu Terms." PandemicFlu.gov. US Department of Health & Human Services. 17 Sep 07.
