# infected

/ˌɪnˈfɛktɪd/ (US) · /ɪnfˈɛktɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/infected
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. biological disease

adjective · CEFR B1

containing germs or bacteria that cause a disease or illness.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. computer virus

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. people with a disease

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

people who have caught a specific disease.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The flu virus infected many students at the school.
- Health officials are worried that the new strain of the virus has already infected several people in the city.
- The malware silently infected the entire corporate network by exploiting a vulnerability in an outdated piece of accounting software that had not been patched for months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.