patient zero
patient zero · patient zeros · patient zeroes
The initial patient in the population of an epidemiological investigationThe initial patient in the population of an epidemiological investigation.
Meaning
2 sensesThe initial patient in the population of an epidemiological investigation.
(figuratively, informal)The source or origin of something.
Origin
Originally patient O (standing for out of California), referring to Gaëtan Dugas, a supersOriginally patient O (standing for out of California), referring to Gaëtan Dugas, a superspreader of AIDS who was at the time erroneously believed to have introduced the virus to the United States. The letter O was later misinterpreted as a zero.
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Forms
plural: patient zeros / patient zeroes / patients zero| Singular | patient zero |
|---|---|
| Plural | patient zeros / patient zeroes / patients zero |
regular
Synonyms
1 synonymsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular