infected

adjective

in·​fect·​ed in-ˈfek-təd How to pronounce infected (audio)
Synonyms of infectednext
: having an infection : contaminated with an infective agent (such as a bacterium or virus)
an infected wound
Through a number of different means, these viruses persist at very low, hard-to-detect levels in infected cells.The Journal of the American Medical Association
She explains that leptospirosis bacteria are shed in the urine of infected animals.Tania Banak
The fungus produces as many as 1 million conidia per square centimeter of infected leaf surface.G. B. Lucas

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026 Officials previously sent out more than 170 quarantine orders in late January after an infected child went to school. Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026 Remove infected leaves quickly, isolate plants, and treat with sulfur or neem oil to control active outbreaks. Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026 The virus spreads through the air via coughs, sneezes or when an infected person speaks, according to Public Health. Austin Turner, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infected

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of infected was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Infected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infected. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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