In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the word which is opposite in meaning to the given word: Epidemic.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary item asks you to choose the antonym of the word "epidemic". "Epidemic" is commonly used in health, science, and media contexts, especially in discussions of diseases that spread rapidly across a community or region. Knowing the difference between related terms like epidemic, endemic, and pandemic is important for accurate language use and is often tested in competitive exams to check both vocabulary and general awareness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is "epidemic".
• The options are "Contagious", "Endemic", "Limited", "Infectious", and "Localised".
• We assume the standard epidemiological meaning: an outbreak of a disease that spreads rapidly and affects many individuals at the same time.
• We look for a term that contrasts with this sense in a technically accurate way.
• Some options may be loosely opposite in everyday speech but not in formal usage.

Concept / Approach:
In epidemiology, an "epidemic" refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area. In contrast, "endemic" refers to the constant presence or usual prevalence of a disease within a population or geographic area. Thus, while an epidemic is an unusual spike or outbreak, an endemic disease exists at a steady, baseline level. This makes "endemic" the term that stands in conceptual opposition to "epidemic" in technical vocabulary. The other options either describe properties of diseases or are non-technical adjectives that do not form the established antonym pair.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "epidemic" involves a rapid and widespread increase in disease cases. Step 2: Analyse "Contagious". This means capable of being transmitted from one person to another. An epidemic is often contagious, so this is a related quality, not the opposite. Step 3: Analyse "Endemic". This refers to a disease that is regularly found among particular people or in a certain area, at a predictable or constant rate. Step 4: Compare: epidemic is an abnormal surge in cases, while endemic is the background, stable presence of disease. Step 5: Analyse "Limited". While an epidemic is widespread, calling something limited is more of a loose conversational opposite, not the specific technical term that stands against "epidemic". Step 6: Analyse "Infectious". This refers to diseases that can spread from person to person or organism to organism, a property shared by many epidemic diseases. Step 7: Analyse "Localised". This refers to something confined to one area. Although epidemics can be large and widespread, they can also be localised outbreaks, so this is not a strict antonym either. Step 8: Conclude that "Endemic" is the correct antonym, as it represents the stable baseline rather than a sudden outbreak.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by recalling common triads: endemic, epidemic, and pandemic. Endemic describes the normal level of disease in an area, epidemic a sudden increase, and pandemic a worldwide epidemic. In official health communications, endemic and epidemic are used as contrasting situations: a disease may shift from endemic to epidemic status when cases rise sharply. This established contrast supports choosing "Endemic" as the antonym in a precise vocabulary question. Words like "limited" and "localised" are broader adjectives and do not capture this specific technical opposition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Contagious" describes the ability of a disease to spread, which does not contradict the idea of an epidemic; in fact many epidemics involve contagious diseases. "Limited" simply means restricted in extent and is too vague and general to serve as a precise antonym of "epidemic". "Infectious" again refers to diseases that can be transmitted; epidemics are frequently caused by infectious agents, so this is related but not opposite. "Localised" indicates being confined to a particular place, but there can be localised epidemics as well; hence it does not function as a true opposite.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted to choose "Limited" or "Localised" because these words feel opposite to the idea of wide spread. However, exam setters often expect the technically correct term rather than a loose intuitive opposite. Another pitfall is confusing "contagious" or "infectious" with "epidemic" and assuming that the test is asking for a word that simply feels different, rather than specifically opposite. When dealing with scientific vocabulary, it is important to remember well-defined pairs such as "endemic versus epidemic".

Final Answer:
The correct antonym of "epidemic" in this context is Endemic.