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

Watch for unusual phone behavior An infected phone may show signs such as unexplained mobile data usage, excessive background activity, unexpected advertisements or apps appearing without your permission. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Herpesviruses, for example, move to uninfected individuals via direct contact with bodily fluids (particularly saliva) or with the skin or mucous membranes of infected persons, which can include asymptomatic carriers. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

But health officials say that further investigation is required to confirm how the person became infected and to understand whether the virus caused or contributed to their death. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Given mink’s reputation as escape artists, wildlife experts set up traps around infected farms. — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 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