infect
Infect (verb) means to pass a disease-causing germ or virus into a person, animal, or plant. Example: “The mosquito bite infected him with malaria.”
How to use infect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pass on something harmful (a disease) or, more loosely, to spread a mood or feeling to others.
Word forms
infected past tense, infects singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The mosquito bite _____ him with malaria.
Etymology
From Latin infectus, past participle of inficere, "to dye, taint, spoil."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for infect
See all rhymes for infect →Frequently asked questions
What does “infect” mean?
The word “infect” means to pass a disease-causing germ or virus into a person, animal, or plant. In plain terms, to pass on something harmful (a disease) or, more loosely, to spread a mood or feeling to others.
How do you pronounce “infect”?
“Infect” is pronounced ihn-FEHKT (/ɪnˈfɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “infect” in a sentence?
Here is “infect” used in a sentence: “The mosquito bite infected him with malaria.”
What is the opposite of “infect”?
The opposite of “infect” — its antonyms — is disinfect.
What part of speech is “infect”?
“Infect” is a verb.
Where does the word “infect” come from?
The word “infect” comes from Latin. From Latin infectus, past participle of inficere, "to dye, taint, spoil.".
Is “infect” a common word?
“Infect” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “infect” have?
“Infect” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pass a disease-causing germ or virus into a person, animal, or plant.