contact trace
verb
contact traced; contact tracing; contact traces
: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
How well a college contact traces, places infected students in isolation, disseminates a steady stream of messaging to students about following safety practices and punishes offenders all have an impact on how much the virus spreads, [Gonzalo] Bearman said.—
Eric Kolenich
Eric KolenichCampbell County Public Health … also contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.—Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore
Johnathan Gallardo and Mike MooreYet the only way we'll all win is if we'll do everything possible between now and then—wear a mask, wash our hands, socially distance, contact trace—to put this coronavirus permanently in our rearview mirror in order to return to our old normal every hour of every day.—Mark Wiedmer
Mark Wiedmer
: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
"Our school has done the best they can to keep us all as safe as possible, but I just happened to be in an unfortunate situation and ended being contact traced. I am choosing to focus on all of the positive experiences I had this season and the great memories I made with my team."—Alexi Fogo
Alexi FogoExamples of contact trace in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the pandemic, Fauci issued important opinions about issues including lockdowns, masking, school closures, vaccines, 6-foot separation and contact tracing.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
Even now, however, there is little routine testing of farmworkers or close contact tracing for those who fall ill.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
The system then moves to stage three to rapidly respond to infected cattle using existing incentive programs, movement controls and contact tracing.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
The system then moves to stage two to identify infected herds through bulk tank sampling, before stage three to rapidly respond to infected cattle using existing incentive programs, movement controls and contact tracing.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contact trace 
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Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
Even now, however, there is little routine testing of farmworkers or close contact tracing for those who fall ill.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
The system then moves to stage three to rapidly respond to infected cattle using existing incentive programs, movement controls and contact tracing.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
The system then moves to stage two to identify infected herds through bulk tank sampling, before stage three to rapidly respond to infected cattle using existing incentive programs, movement controls and contact tracing.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contact trace
Dictionary Entries Near contact trace
Cite this Entry
“Contact trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact%20trace. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
contact trace
verb
: to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who may have had close contact with a person having a confirmed or probable case of infectious disease : to engage in the practice of contact tracing
Campbell County Public Health … contact traces for diseases like measles and whooping cough, where a dozen cases qualifies as an outbreak.—Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore, The Billings (Montana) Gazette
Johnathan Gallardo and Mike Moore, The Billings (Montana) Gazette
: to identify and notify (someone) through contact tracing
When a first major outbreak hit Grand Forks, North Dakota, in April, the problem was clear: More than 150 employees of a wind turbine blade factory were infected. The factory shut its doors for several weeks, and public health officials tested and contact traced each case.—Sarah Mervosh and Lucy Tompkins, The Houston Chronicle
Sarah Mervosh and Lucy Tompkins, The Houston ChronicleLove words? Need even more definitions?
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