infected

adjective

in·​fect·​ed in-ˈfek-təd How to pronounce infected (audio)
: 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
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It can be spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Why Do a Tick Check? Ticks transmit diseases to humans by feeding on the blood of infected animals and contracting pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Julia Ries, Health, 25 June 2025 About one out of 150 infected people develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025 That seemed to be confirmed by the appearance of an emaciated infected wandering through a field in the trailer, who bore a striking resemblance to the former bike messanger. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for infected

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of infected was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Infected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infected. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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