infected; infecting; infects
1
: to contaminate with a disease-producing substance or agent (such as bacteria)
2
a
: to communicate a pathogen or a disease to
b
of a pathogenic organism
: to invade (an individual or organ) usually by penetration
c
of a computer virus
: to become transmitted and copied to (a device, such as a computer)
3
a
: contaminate, corrupt
the inflated writing that infects such stories
b
: to work upon or seize upon so as to induce sympathy, belief, or support
trying to infect their salespeople with their enthusiasm
Examples of infect in a Sentence
If you're sick you should stay home to avoid infecting other people in the office.
The virus has infected many people.
They were unable to prevent bacteria from infecting the wound.
Her enthusiasm has infected everyone.
The virus has infected many computers.
All the computers in the office were infected by the same virus.
Recent Examples on the Web
However, once infected, the virus can cause neurological symptoms due to inflammation or damage to the brain or lining of the brain and spinal cord, known as meningitis.
—
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Pediatrician medical groups argue delaying this birth dose until one month of life would leave the opportunity for babies to be missed if they are born to a mother infected with the virus or from a close contact soon after birth.
—Sony Salzman, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
But about 90% of infants and 30% of children who are infected between ages 1 and 5 will develop a lifelong infection that can lead to severe liver damage, liver cancer or death, the agency said.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
That refers to when an infant becomes infected from its mother during birth.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Pediatrician medical groups argue delaying this birth dose until one month of life would leave the opportunity for babies to be missed if they are born to a mother infected with the virus or from a close contact soon after birth.
—Sony Salzman, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
But about 90% of infants and 30% of children who are infected between ages 1 and 5 will develop a lifelong infection that can lead to severe liver damage, liver cancer or death, the agency said.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
That refers to when an infant becomes infected from its mother during birth.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infect. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
infect
verb
in·fect
in-ˈfekt 
1
: to contaminate with a disease-producing substance or germ
infected bedding
2
a
: to pass a germ or disease to
coughing people who infect others
b
: to enter and cause disease in
bacteria that infect wounds
c
: to become copied to
a virus has infected the computer
3
: to cause to share one's feelings
infected everyone with his enthusiasm
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share