Epidemic vs Pandemic

[birendrapnayak]

Hi everybody,

What is the difference between pandemic and epidemic? I have remained confused even after consulting the dictionary for quite some time now?

 

[emsr2d2]

Collins describes "pandemic" as "extensively epidemic". It appears to me that an epidemic affects a lot of people over a wide area. A pandemic affects even more people.

 

[Tdol]

Yes, a pandemic is spread over a wide area geographically.

 

[BobSmith]

a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “upon,” “on,” “over,” “near,” “at,” “before,” “after”
Epi- | Define Epi- at Dictionary.com


a combining form meaning “all,” occurring originally in loanwords from Greek
Pan- | Define Pan at Dictionary.com

 

[birendrapnayak]

Thanks everybody,

Now I got the point: pandemic affects a larger number of people over a wider area than endemic.
Birendra