#1 pestilence n. [plague, pest, pestis] a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal. wn
#2 pestilence n. [plague, pest] any epidemic disease with a high death rate. wn
#3 pestilence n. [canker] a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of; "racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation"; "according to him, I was the canker in their midst". wn
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