Infected
/ɪnˈfɛktɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo contaminate or affect with a disease-causing organism, especially bacteria or viruses.
/ɪnˈfɛkt/
To contaminate with a disease-causing organism.
The doctor told her that her cut was infected.
💡 Simply: Imagine you get a little scratch. If nasty germs get in there and start making you feel sick, your scratch is infected! It's like the germs are throwing a party inside you.
👶 For kids: When something gets sick from germs, it's infected!
More Examples
The disease infected the entire population.
The computer system was infected with a virus.
How It's Used
"The wound became infected with bacteria."
"The virus infected the host cells."
Affected by a disease or harmful substance; contaminated.
/ɪnˈfɛktɪd/
Affected or contaminated by a disease-causing organism.
The doctor cleaned the infected area.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a boo-boo. If it's red and oozy and hurts, it's infected! It means germs have gotten in and are making it unhappy.
👶 For kids: When something has germs that make it sick, it's infected!
More Examples
The computer had an infected file.
His infected leg required immediate medical attention.
How It's Used
"The patient had an infected wound."
"The files were marked as infected with malware."
From Latin infectus, past participle of inficere 'to taint, dye, corrupt'.
The term has been used since the late 14th century in medical and figurative contexts.
Memory tip
Think 'in' + 'fect' (like 'defect') - something bad is coming 'in'.
Word Origin
"to taint, dye, corrupt"