infect

[ in-fekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
2. to affect with disease.
3. to taint or contaminate with something that affects quality, character, or condition unfavorably:

   to infect the air with poison gas.

4. to corrupt or affect morally:

   The news of the gold strike infected him with greed.

5. to imbue with some pernicious belief, opinion, etc.

   Synonyms: corrupt, damage

6. to affect with a computer virus.

   Synonyms: arouse, stir, touch

7. to affect so as to influence feeling or action:

   His courage infected the others.

8. Law. to taint with illegality, or expose to penalty, forfeiture, etc.

verb (used without object)

1. to become infected.

adjective

1. Archaic. infected.

infect

/ ɪnˈfɛkt /

verb

1. to cause infection in; contaminate (an organism, wound, etc) with pathogenic microorganisms
2. also intr to affect or become affected with a communicable disease
3. to taint, pollute, or contaminate
4. to affect, esp adversely, as if by contagion
5. computing to affect with a computer virus
6. international law to taint with crime or illegality; expose to penalty or subject to forfeiture

adjective

1. archaic.
   contaminated or polluted with or as if with a disease; infected

Derived Forms

• inˈfector, noun

Other Words From

• in·fectant adjective
• in·fected·ness noun
• in·fector in·fecter noun
• nonin·fected adjective
• nonin·fecting adjective
• prein·fect verb (used with object)
• rein·fect verb (used with object)
• unin·fected adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of infect¹

1350–1400; Middle English infecten < Latin infectus (past participle of inficere to immerse in dye, discolor, taint, poison), equivalent to in- in- ² + -fec-, combining form of facere to do ¹, make ( fact ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of infect¹

C14: from Latin inficere to dip into, stain, from facere to make

Example Sentences

The CDC maintains the risk of contracting bird flu for the general public to be “low,” but many public health experts are concerned that as the virus continues to spread, it has more chances to evolve into a form that can better infect humans.

From Salon

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a series of fake videos showing Muslims spitting, sneezing or licking objects to infect people with the virus went viral on social media.

From BBC

We don’t want to infect her and lose her suddenly.

From Slate

In addition to vaccines, the movement also generally opposes federally mandated public health interventions and promotes alternative therapies and raw foods like unpasteurized milk, which Kennedy has said he drinks, despite the CDC recommending against it, especially as bird flu continues to infect hundreds of herds of dairy cows.

From Salon

"The spread of bTB is from cow to cow and it’s because of inefficient hygiene situations. Biosecurity in the old days meant keeping the badgers out but now means keeping the slurry away from the cows so they can’t infect each other," Sir Brian said.

From BBC

Related Words

• affect
• poison
• taint
• touch