The term "black plagues" typically refers to the infamous historical outbreaks of the deadly bacterial infection known as bubonic plague. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to describe this catastrophic disease. Some common alternatives include "the Black Death," "the Great Pestilence," and simply "plague." Other descriptive phrases that can be used to characterize the experience of living through a plague outbreak include "horrific epidemic," "devastating pandemic," and "mass public health crisis." Regardless of the terminology used, it is important to remember the immense human toll that infectious diseases like bubonic plague can take on populations throughout history and around the world.