infection
7 synonyms for infection, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An illness caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other germs entering the body.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use infection
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bacterial infection
risk of infection
fight off an infection
Etymology
From Old French infection, from Late Latin īnfectiō, from infect + -ion.
Full origin of infection →Frequently asked questions
What does “infection” mean?
The word “infection” means an illness caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other germs entering the body. In plain terms, a disease caused by germs getting into the body and multiplying.
How do you pronounce “infection”?
“Infection” is pronounced ihn-FEHK-shuhn (/ɪnˈfɛkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “infection” in a sentence?
Here is “infection” used in a sentence: “She was put on antibiotics to treat a chest infection.”
What part of speech is “infection”?
“Infection” is a noun.
Where does the word “infection” come from?
The word “infection” comes from Late Latin. From Old French infection, from Late Latin īnfectiō, from infect + -ion.
Is “infection” a common word?
“Infection” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between an 'infection' and a 'disease'?
An infection is caused by germs such as bacteria or viruses entering the body, while a disease is any condition that impairs normal functioning, whether or not germs are involved. Infections can lead to disease, but not all diseases are infections.
What is the difference between 'infection' and 'contagion'?
An infection is the illness itself caused by germs in the body, while contagion refers to the spread of a disease from one person to another. A contagious infection is one that passes easily between people.
What is the difference between a bacterial and a viral infection?
Both are infections caused by germs entering the body, but a bacterial infection is caused by bacteria and a viral infection by viruses. The distinction matters medically because antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral ones.
