infective

in·fec·tive | \ in-ˈfek-tiv

Definition of infective

a : producing or capable of producing or transmitting infection … infective oocysts are ingested with contaminated feed or water.— Douglas N. Stern Affected cats not yet showing signs of illness may shed the virus and be infective to other cats … — Cat Fancy

b : caused by or resulting from an infection with one or more pathogenic agents infective bacterial endocarditis

c : affecting others : spreading easily to others Different teachers will demonstrate different skills and strengths. Some will have … an infective enthusiasm for their own subject.— Jonathan Glazzard et al.

Other Words from infective Example Sentences Learn More about infective

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of infective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Those larvae grow and molt in the fly's tissues before reaching an infective stage. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Cattle eyeball worms found in second human, raising worry of wriggly uprising," 6 Nov. 2019 The Kivu swarm, with its three new lineages of Ebola, may amount to about one or two quadrillion infective particles of the virus. — Richard Preston, The New Yorker, "Is Ebola Evolving Into a More Deadly Virus?," 7 Aug. 2019 To spread from one dog to another, the larvae have to develop to a specific infective stage inside the mosquito. — Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, "More dogs are getting sick as climate changes pushes diseases into new parts of the US," 15 June 2019 The eggs can then mature into a form of the parasite that is infective. — Fox News, "GRAPHIC IMAGES: Boy, 4, has dozens of worms removed from intestines after complaints of pain, vomiting," 11 June 2019 Cidara Therapeutics is offering $120 million in stock, the anti-infective drug developer said Monday. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cidara offers $120 million in stock to advance anti-infective drugs," 21 May 2018 The list of diseases thought to be caused by infective organisms is growing by the day. — Sandy Bauers, Philly.com, "How high-tech genomics - and simple aspirin - could make your joint replacement better," 17 May 2018 That’s how former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli was able to hike the price of a 60-year-old anti-infective drug, Daraprim, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. — Washington Post, "FDA names drugmakers accused of blocking cheaper generics," 17 May 2018 For preterm and sick babies, human milk — fortified with anti-infective and anti-inflammatory nutrients not found in formula — is an elixir. — Crocker Stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Better Angels: After seeing homeless woman nurse baby, attorney donates her breastmilk to save lives," 11 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about infective

Dictionary Entries near infective

infectious necrotic hepatitis

Statistics for infective

Cite this Entry

“Infective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infectivity. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for infective

infective

adjective

in·fec·tive | \ in-ˈfek-tiv

Medical Definition of infective

: infectious:

a : producing or capable of producing or transmitting infection … infective oocysts are ingested with contaminated feed or water.— Douglas N. Stern … a strain of bacteria which forms spores that can remain infective for as long as fifty years.— Sue Hubbell Affected cats not yet showing signs of illness may shed the virus and be infective to other cats … — Cat Fancy

b : caused by or resulting from an infection with one or more pathogenic agents infective bacterial endocarditis