infected

adj. containing germs or bacteria that cause a disease or illness.

adj. containing or affected by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

“You should clean the cut on your finger so it doesn't become infected.”

“The surgeon expressed concern that the wound had become severely infected, requiring an immediate course of intravenous antibiotics to prevent sepsis.”

adj. containing a harmful program or virus that can damage a computer.

adj. containing a malicious software program or virus designed to damage or disrupt a digital system.

“The IT department warned us not to open the infected email attachment.”

“Once the infected file was executed, the malware spread rapidly across the local network, encrypting sensitive data on several workstations.”

n. people who have caught a specific disease.

n. individuals who have been contaminated by a pathogen; often used as a collective noun in medical or fictional contexts.

“The hospital set up a separate area to treat the infected.”

“Public health officials struggled to track the movements of the infected during the early stages of the respiratory outbreak.”

Formal