infected

1 of 2

adjective

in·​fect·​ed in-ˈfek-təd 

: 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

infected

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of infect

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The company said a self-copying AI built on small models would spread slowly, with the number of infected devices doubling every few days, but would be hard to stamp out once loose. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

People are most often infected after exposure to infected rodents. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

To track the outbreak, West regularly hikes to infected stands to inspect last year’s broods. — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Fleas that jump from infected animals and bite people can spread the disease. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infected

• affected
• bisected
• collected
• connected
• corrected
• defected
• deflected
• dejected
• detected
• directed
• dissected
• effected