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
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationShe explains that leptospirosis bacteria are shed in the urine of infected animals.—Tania Banak
Tania BanakThe fungus produces as many as 1 million conidia per square centimeter of infected leaf surface.—G. B. Lucas
G. B. LucasExamples of infected in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her baby was covered with infected sores.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
An infection by New World screwworm occurs when an infected fly burrows into the tissue or flesh of warm-blooded animals, and, in rare cases, people.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
Sunbeams through the windows illuminate floating dust motes—and, imperceptibly, microdroplets of mucus carrying the measles virus, expelled from an infected but asymptomatic child who is hopping and laughing among the others.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Officials previously sent out more than 170 quarantine orders in late January after an infected child went to school.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infected
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Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
An infection by New World screwworm occurs when an infected fly burrows into the tissue or flesh of warm-blooded animals, and, in rare cases, people.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
Sunbeams through the windows illuminate floating dust motes—and, imperceptibly, microdroplets of mucus carrying the measles virus, expelled from an infected but asymptomatic child who is hopping and laughing among the others.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Officials previously sent out more than 170 quarantine orders in late January after an infected child went to school.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infected
Cite this Entry
“Infected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infected. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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