infected

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

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The South African Department of Health says tests performed on infected passengers of the the MV Hondius confirm the Andes virus, one of the deadliest hantavirus diseases with a roughly 40% case fatality rate, is what infected passengers onboard the ship. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Burn infected plant material or dispose of it in a closed container. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 May 2026

As the outbreak spreads and the infected begin to transform, authorities seal off the entire facility. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 May 2026

Mosquitoes – most often Culex species – pick up the virus after feeding on infected birds. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infected

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