social disease

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social disease

A doctor explains the importance of prevention for a social disease.

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  • The term "social disease" is now considered outdated, vague, and potentially stigmatizing in modern medical and public health contexts.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  • Venereal disease (VD): (n) An older clinical term, now also largely superseded by STI/STD.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.
social disease

A doctor explains the importance of prevention for a social disease.

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