incidence
incidence
Pronunciation
/ˈɪn.sɪ.dəns/
in: /ˈɪn/
/ɪ/ - a short "i" sound, as in "bit"
/n/ - the "n" sound
si: /ˈsɪ/
/s/ - the "s" sound
/ɪ/ - a short "i" sound, as in "bit"
dence: /ˈdəns/
/də/ - a schwa sound followed by a "d" sound. The schwa sound is a very short, unstressed "uh" sound.
/ns/ - the "n" sound followed by the "s" sound.
Word Form Variations
Singular:
"incidence" - This is the standard form, referring to the rate or frequency of occurrence.
Plural:
"incidences" - While "incidence" is often used in a general sense, the plural form "incidences" is used to refer to individual occurrences or instances.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Word Class: Noun
Definitions:
1. The measure of how frequently something new occurs within a specific population or timeframe.
This definition emphasizes the "newness" aspect, which is crucial in epidemiological and statistical contexts.
Example: "The public health officials tracked the incidence of new flu cases during the winter months."
Synonyms:
Frequency
Rate of occurrence
Occurrence rate
Frequency of occurrence.
Antonyms:
Absence
Lack
Nonoccurrence
prevalence (While related, prevalence measures total cases, not new ones)
2. A specific instance or occurrence of something.
This definition broadens the application to include individual events.
Example: "There were several incidences of vandalism reported in the neighborhood."
Synonyms:
Occurrence
Event
Instance
Case
Antonyms:
Nonexistence
Omission.
Examples of Use
In Medical and Scientific Publications:
"The study aimed to determine the incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes." (From medical journals and research papers)
"Public health officials are monitoring the incidence of new COVID-19 variant cases." (From reports by organizations like the CDC and WHO)
"Researchers have noted an increased incidence of certain cancers in populations exposed to environmental toxins." (From scientific research publications)
In News and Online Publications:
"Reports indicate a rise in the incidence of cybercrime, with increased phishing attacks targeting individuals and businesses." (From news websites covering cybersecurity)
"The news reported the incidence of traffic accidents had increased during the holiday season." (From local and national news outlets)
"Analyzing the incidence of wildfires, experts are attributing the increase to climate change." (From environmental news sources)
"Banks' decision to shorten the grace period comes as the incidence of check fraud grows in the U.S." (From Time magazine)
In General Public Discourse:
When discussing public health, people might say, "We need to work on reducing the incidence of childhood obesity."
In discussions about crime, someone might say, "The police are tracking the incidence of burglaries in our neighborhood."
"There's less incidence of people losing their sense of taste and smell." (From news reports concerning changes in covid symptoms)
10 Famous Quotes Using Incidence
“The true incidence of a problem is often hidden by the way it is reported.” (Unknown)
“Reducing the incidence of harm begins with understanding its causes, not denying its presence.” (Unknown)
“History records not only events, but the incidence of ideas that shaped them.” (Unknown)
“The incidence of conflict rises where communication fails.” (Unknown)
“Public health advances are measured by declining incidence, not by good intentions.” (Unknown)
“The incidence of fear increases when uncertainty goes unnamed.” (Unknown)
“Policy should be guided by evidence, especially the incidence of real-world outcomes.” (Unknown)
“Awareness changes the incidence of silence around suffering.” (Unknown)
“The incidence of truth is rare in times of noise.” (Unknown)
“Tracking the incidence of small failures can prevent catastrophic ones.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The Roots:
The word "incidence" comes from the Latin word "incidentia."
"Incidentia" is derived from "incidere," which means "to fall upon" or "to happen."
"In-" means "on" or "upon," and "cadere" means "to fall."
How it Evolved:
Essentially, "incidence" originally referred to something that "falls upon" or "occurs."
Over time, the word moved from this general sense of "happening" to a more specific meaning related to frequency or rate of occurrence.
The first known uses of the word were in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At this time the word was used to describe something that happened, or occurred.
Later, particularly in the fields of science and statistics, it gained its precise meaning of measuring how often something new happens within a specific group.
In Simple Terms:
Imagine raindrops falling on a surface. The "incidence" could be thought of as the rate at which those raindrops hit the ground. So, the word has always carried the idea of something "falling" or "happening," and then evolved to quantify how often that "happening" occurs.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Incidence
Why "Incidence" Isn't Idiomatic:
Formal Tone: "Incidence" is a relatively technical word, often used in statistical, medical, and scientific contexts. Idioms tend to be more informal.
Specificity: It refers to a precise measurement of frequency, which doesn't always fit the figurative nature of idioms.
Where "Incidence" Does Appear:
"High incidence of..." / "Low incidence of..."
This is the most common phrase. It's used to describe the frequency of something, especially undesirable things like diseases or crimes.
Example: "There's a high incidence of flu cases this winter."
"The incidence rate"
This is another very common use, especially in medical and statistical reporting.
"To track the incidence of..."
This phrase is common in scientific and research fields.
Supplementing with Related Concepts:
Since direct idioms are scarce, here are some ways to express similar ideas:
Using Synonyms:
Instead of "incidence," you could use "frequency" or "rate," which might fit into more common phrases.
"The frequency of accidents has increased."
"The rate of occurrence of these events is alarming."
Phrases expressing similar ideas:
"On the rise": this phrase can be used in place of, "an increased incidence of." Example: "crime is on the rise."
"Common occurance": this phrase can be used in place of, "a high incidence of." Example: "These failures are a common occurrence."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of incidence from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
