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

This can happen changing the diaper of an infected child or caring for someone with the illness. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

In the United States, dogs can get rabies if they are exposed to infected bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

If the donor cells are too similar to those of the recipient, however, there’s a risk that the treatment could fail to effectively destroy infected T cells. —Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2026

Health officials are now warning residents and travelers about the exposure while trying to directly notify passengers who shared flights with the infected person. —Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 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