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

Fortunately, most infected individuals recover within one to three days. — Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

As crops grow, they may be contaminated by harmful substances in the water or soil, or by the feces of infected people. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 July 2026

The Food and Drug Administration’s traceback investigation identified a single supplier from Mexico that supplied the Taco Bell restaurants where infected people ate. — Jessica Nix, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Typically, the first malware to run was a reconnaissance program that gathered information from the infected device. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 16 July 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