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

Wash your hands regularly, don’t touch your face, clean surfaces and avoid infected people, the site said. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Nine out of 10 people exposed to measles become infected if not vaccinated or with natural immunity. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026

Do not compost infected plants. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026

While working on the vaccine, Plotkin was also caring for infected babies and pregnant women. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 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