infectious
Americanadjective
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communicable by infection, as from one person to another or from one part of the body to another.
infectious diseases.
- Synonyms:
- catching
-
causing or communicating infection.
-
tending to spread from one to another.
infectious laughter.
-
Law. capable of contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure or forfeiture.
-
Obsolete. diseased.
adjective
-
(of a disease) capable of being transmitted Compare contagious
-
(of a disease) caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoa
-
causing or transmitting infection
-
tending or apt to spread, as from one person to another
infectious mirth
-
international law
-
tainting or capable of tainting with illegality
-
rendering liable to seizure or forfeiture
-
Related Words
See contagious.
Other Word Forms
- infectiously adverb
- infectiousness noun
- noninfectious adjective
- noninfectiously adverb
- noninfectiousness noun
- uninfectious adjective
- uninfectiously adverb
- uninfectiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of infectious
First recorded in 1535–45; infect(ion) + -ious
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After hours cooling his heels, Kornev is then informed that Stepniak is ill with an infectious disease — come back another time.
From Los Angeles Times
"Delaying reporting a case is indefensible," said Prof Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious disease at the University of East Anglia.
From BBC
Bellamy's rambunctious and infectious approach to his playing career made him one of the Premier League's most effective forwards.
From BBC
They had no manual on how to handle an infectious disease at 40,000 feet, and they lacked the basics, including personal protective equipment for the crew.
Vaccines for infectious diseases are given to healthy people and must have a pristine safety profile, Letai said.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
