adj
endemic
ehn-DEHM-ihk
adj
1
Native to, or regularly found only in, a particular place.
"The kiwi is a bird endemic to New Zealand."
"This wildflower is endemic to the alpine regions of the Rockies."
2
Regularly occurring within a particular community or region, such as a disease that never fully disappears.
"Malaria remains endemic in parts of sub-Saharan Africa."
"Corruption was endemic in the old regime."
How to Use Endemic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that belongs naturally to, or is constantly present in, one specific place or group.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "epidemic" (a sudden outbreak) or "pandemic" (a global outbreak) — endemic means a steady, ongoing presence in one area, not a sudden spike.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
endemic species
endemic disease
endemic to a region
Word Forms
endemics plural
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The kiwi is a bird _____ to New Zealand.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek en- ("in") plus dēmos ("people"), via French endémique — literally "among the people."