infected

adjective

in·​fect·​ed in-ˈfek-təd 

: having an infection : contaminated with an infective agent (such as a bacterium or virus)

an infected wound

Through a number of different means, these viruses persist at very low, hard-to-detect levels in infected cells.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

She explains that leptospirosis bacteria are shed in the urine of infected animals.

—Tania Banak

The fungus produces as many as 1 million conidia per square centimeter of infected leaf surface.

—G. B. Lucas

Examples of infected in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ticks contract the bacteria that causes Lyme disease from biting infected rodents like mice. —Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 9 June 2026

Unlike helper T cells, which activate other immune cells to clear an infection, killer T cells destroy infected cells. —Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

Patients come in with what could be blocked carotid arteries, peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, or infected sores that could seed sepsis, the overwhelming full-body infection. —Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 8 June 2026

Using this method, the government breeds sterile, non-infected male flies. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of infect

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infected

• affected
• bisected
• collected
• connected
• corrected
• defected
• deflected
• dejected
• detected
• directed
• dissected
• effected