infected

1 of 2

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

infected

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of infect

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Bubonic plague, the most common, is spread by the bite of infected fleas. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

In plain English, that means a criminal can potentially route internet traffic through the infected computer. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Pneumonic plague can spread through the air when an infected person or animal coughs or sneezes. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026

The other two types typically spread from contact with infected fleas, animals or infected tissues. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infected

• affected
• bisected
• collected
• connected
• corrected
• defected
• deflected
• dejected
• detected
• directed
• dissected
• effected