Definition

Noun: 1. A communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact: A disease that is primarily spread through sexual activity. This is a dated or euphemistic term.

Usage Notes

• The term "social disease" is now considered outdated, vague, and potentially stigmatizing in modern medical and public health contexts. It is a euphemism.
• Contemporary usage strongly prefers the more precise and neutral terms sexually transmitted infection (STI) or sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Examples

• Noun:
  • In the past, syphilis was often referred to as a social disease.
  • Public health campaigns have moved away from using the term "social disease" in favor of "STI."

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used in historical or sociological discussions to reflect the attitudes and language of a past era regarding sexuality and public health.
  • The novel depicted the era's fear and shame associated with so-called "social diseases."

Variants and Related Words

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI): (n) The modern, preferred term for an infection spread through sexual contact.
• Sexually transmitted disease (STD): (n) A synonymous term for STI, though "infection" is often preferred as it is more medically accurate in early stages.
• Venereal disease (VD): (n) An older clinical term, now also largely superseded by STI/STD.

Synonyms

• Sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• Venereal disease (VD) (archaic)

Related Phrases

• Communicable disease: A broader term for any disease that can be transmitted from one person to another.
• Public health issue: A matter affecting the health of a population, which includes the prevention and treatment of STIs.

Noun

1. a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact