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

Health officials did not name Lillian as the infected resident, but friends and family identified her to several local news outlets. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Rabies is a deadly virus that spreads to people from the saliva of infected animals, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

West Nile virus survives in nature in several types of birds and is transmitted to humans by the bites of mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

This week New York City reported its first human case of West Nile virus for the year; health officials said the infected individual may have contracted the virus outside of the city. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 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