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
On July 22, the hospital confirmed the patient died from the infection
A child in South Carolina has died after being infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba, state health officials confirmed.
—
Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 23 July 2025
In a study published July 22 in Nature Communications, researchers report that living through the pandemic aged our brains—whether or not you were infected with COVID-19.
—Alice Park, Time, 22 July 2025
In 1913, scientists demonstrated that bacteria had infected the brains of these patients.
—Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Slow-growing turf in mid- to late summer is most prone to being infected with rust, so using good cultural practices is the best way to combat this disease in most situations.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for infect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 23 July 2025
In a study published July 22 in Nature Communications, researchers report that living through the pandemic aged our brains—whether or not you were infected with COVID-19.
—Alice Park, Time, 22 July 2025
In 1913, scientists demonstrated that bacteria had infected the brains of these patients.
—Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Slow-growing turf in mid- to late summer is most prone to being infected with rust, so using good cultural practices is the best way to combat this disease in most situations.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 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 29 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share