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

It’s transmitted through blood or genital fluids from an infected person and can be passed easily during childbirth from a woman to her child during either a vaginal delivery or C-section. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025

But it can also be passed from an infected mother to a baby. —Arkansas Online, 6 Dec. 2025

This virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025

But test results can produce false negatives, some people become infected later in pregnancy after being tested and babies can get infected by other members of their household. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025

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