Occupation or Discipline
epidemiology Audio
ep·i·de·mi·ol·o·gy [ ep-i-dee-mee-ol-uh-jee, -dem-ee- ]
Subclass of:
Public Health Medicine
Definitions related to epidemiology:
  • Field concerned with the determination of causes, incidence, and characteristic behavior of disease outbreaks affecting human populations. It includes the interrelationships of host, agent, and environment as related to the distribution and control of disease.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The study of the causes, incidence and distribution of disease in the population and its application for prevention or control.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The study of the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Epidemiology, branch of medical science that studies the distribution of disease in human populations and the factors determining that distribution, chiefly by the use of statistics. Unlike other medical disciplines, epidemiology concerns itself with groups of people rather than individual patients...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.