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
As such, even devices that are safe themselves can be infected by downloading apps from unofficial marketplaces — just as with Android smartphones.
—
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The presence of the virus this month in samples indicates an additional person may be infected with the highly contagious illness, according to a news release.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
In one case 10 years ago, four travelers were infected by a person at the same airport gate.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The flatworms first infect the snail, then a fish, and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate, like a bird or a human, that consumes the infected fish.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
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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Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The presence of the virus this month in samples indicates an additional person may be infected with the highly contagious illness, according to a news release.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
In one case 10 years ago, four travelers were infected by a person at the same airport gate.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The flatworms first infect the snail, then a fish, and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate, like a bird or a human, that consumes the infected fish.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 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 10 Jun. 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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