infect
ihn-FEHKT
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.”
verb
1
To pass a disease-causing germ or virus into a person, animal, or plant.
"The mosquito bite infected him with malaria."
"One sick worker infected half the office within a week."
2
To spread a feeling or attitude to other people.
"Her enthusiasm for the project infected the whole team."
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.
Common pairings
infect with a virus
infect others
enthusiasm infected
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- infects
- Past tense
- infected
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.
