Word
infection
Phoneticsin·fec·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈfɛkʃən/
UK/ɪnfˈɛkʃən/
Definitions
01the process of becoming sick
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. the act of germs or bacteria entering a person's body and starting to grow.
n. the process by which a pathogen invades a host organism and begins to multiply.
日本語:感染※
“The doctor cleaned the wound carefully to prevent an infection from starting.”
“Public health officials focused on the primary infection route, which appeared to be contaminated water sources in the rural districts.”
Synonyms
02an illness
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a disease or sickness caused by bacteria, viruses, or other germs.
n. a disease state resulting from the presence and activity of a pathogenic agent.
日本語:感染症※
“She had a throat infection and had to stay home from work for three days.”
“The patient was diagnosed with a secondary bacterial infection following a severe bout of seasonal influenza.”
Antonyms
03physical signs of disease
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a visible sign of a disease, such as redness or swelling around a cut.
n. the physical manifestation or site of a pathogenic presence, often characterized by inflammation or suppuration.
“The nurse noticed a small infection around the stitches on his arm.”
“The surgeon examined the site for signs of localized infection, noting the absence of redness or discharge during the follow-up appointment.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “infection” in context.
Verb
01. fight off an infection
“A healthy immune system helps your body fight off an infection more effectively.”
verb + adv + noun
02. prevent an infection
“You should clean the wound thoroughly to prevent an infection from developing.”
verb + noun
03. spread the infection
“Poor hygiene in the hospital caused the infection to spread quickly among patients.”
verb + noun
04. treat an infection
“The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat the infection.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. bacterial infection
“She was diagnosed with a bacterial infection and needed medicine.”
adj + noun
06. secondary infection
“The patient developed a secondary infection while recovering from the flu.”
adj + noun
07. severe infection
“If the redness doesn't go away, it might be a sign of a severe infection.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. risk of infection
“Wearing gloves reduces the risk of infection when handling medical waste.”
noun + of + noun
09. signs of infection
“Watch out for signs of infection, such as swelling or a high temperature.”
noun + of + noun
10. infection prevention
11. infections more often
Real-World Examples
“When they die, their bodies may be taken back to their villages, thus multiplying contacts and the risk of further infections.” “That can spread nasty infections like cold sores.” “The cause of the infection - either certain bacteria or viruses - can be determined by tests.” “Vaccines teach our bodies how to spot an infection to increase our chances of fighting it off.” Etymology
From Old French infection, from Late Latin īnfectiō. Equivalent to infect + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/infection
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0