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
The horse chestnut leaf blotch pathogen overwinters as fruiting bodies in leaves infected during the previous season.
—
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2024
Another worrying flurry of Android malware headlines this week, with a new warning that dangerous new spyware is now infecting devices.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
In addition, two commercial chicken farms in California’s Kings County, and a backyard flock in Tulare County, were reported infected on Tuesday.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Less than a month after reporting its first human case of bird flu, California confirmed that 16 people have been infected with the disease.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for infect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2024
Another worrying flurry of Android malware headlines this week, with a new warning that dangerous new spyware is now infecting devices.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
In addition, two commercial chicken farms in California’s Kings County, and a backyard flock in Tulare County, were reported infected on Tuesday.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Less than a month after reporting its first human case of bird flu, California confirmed that 16 people have been infected with the disease.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for infect
Dictionary Entries Near infect
Cite this Entry
“Infect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infect. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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