infected; infecting; infects
1
: to contaminate with a disease-producing substance or agent (such as bacteria)
2
a
: to communicate a pathogen or a disease to
b
of a pathogenic organism
: to invade (an individual or organ) usually by penetration
c
of a computer virus
: to become transmitted and copied to (a device, such as a computer)
3
a
: contaminate, corrupt
the inflated writing that infects such stories
b
: to work upon or seize upon so as to induce sympathy, belief, or support
trying to infect their salespeople with their enthusiasm
Examples of infect in a Sentence
If you're sick you should stay home to avoid infecting other people in the office.
The virus has infected many people.
They were unable to prevent bacteria from infecting the wound.
Her enthusiasm has infected everyone.
The virus has infected many computers.
All the computers in the office were infected by the same virus.
Recent Examples on the Web
When Trump left office, over 24 million Americans were infected with COVID-19, and 402,269 Americans died during his four-year term, according to Johns Hopkins University.
—
Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
The Tennessee Department of Health said on Friday that a resident in Middle Tennessee tested positive after being infected in early March and is currently recovering at home.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Although the risk to humans remains low, and person-to-person transmission is not known to have happened, the virus’s ability to infect different kinds of animals highlights that the microbe can evolve and adapt to infect new hosts, scientists say.
—Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2025
In tests performed on soybean and tobacco plants, the sensor was able to differentiate between healthy plants and those that had recently been infected with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
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Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
The Tennessee Department of Health said on Friday that a resident in Middle Tennessee tested positive after being infected in early March and is currently recovering at home.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Although the risk to humans remains low, and person-to-person transmission is not known to have happened, the virus’s ability to infect different kinds of animals highlights that the microbe can evolve and adapt to infect new hosts, scientists say.
—Josh Fischman, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2025
In tests performed on soybean and tobacco plants, the sensor was able to differentiate between healthy plants and those that had recently been infected with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infect. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
infect
verb
in·fect
in-ˈfekt 
1
: to contaminate with a disease-producing substance or germ
infected bedding
2
a
: to pass a germ or disease to
coughing people who infect others
b
: to enter and cause disease in
bacteria that infect wounds
c
: to become copied to
a virus has infected the computer
3
: to cause to share one's feelings
infected everyone with his enthusiasm
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