Endemic - Definition

adj 1: of or relating to a disease (or anything resembling a
disease) constantly present to greater or lesser extent
in a particular locality; "diseases endemic to the
tropics"; "endemic malaria"; "food shortages and
starvation are endemic in certain parts of the world"
[syn: endemic, endemical] [ant: ecdemic,
epidemic]
2: native to or confined to a certain region; "the islands have
a number of interesting endemic species" [ant:
cosmopolitan, widely distributed]
3: originating where it is found; "the autochthonal fauna of
Australia includes the kangaroo"; "autochthonous rocks and
people and folktales"; "endemic folkways"; "the Ainu are
indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan" [syn:
autochthonal, autochthonic, autochthonous, endemic,
indigenous]
n 1: a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser
degree in people of a certain class or in people living in
a particular location [syn: endemic, endemic disease]
2: a plant that is native to a certain limited area; "it is an
endemic found only this island"