infected
/ɪnˈfektɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈfektɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈfek-təd/ (ame, mw)
infected — adjective
- infectedpositive
- more infectedcomparative
- most infectedsuperlative
1. describes a living being — a person, animal, or part of the body — that has harm
describes a living being — a person, animal, or part of the body — that has harmful germs such as bacteria or viruses inside it, causing illness or damage to health.
The nurse wore thick gloves before touching the infected patient's wound.
adjective before noun describing a person
Guo's cat became infected with a serious virus and needed a week of hospital care.
became infected with + [disease]
Hospitals in the region treated hundreds of infected children during the outbreak.
The farmer was told to separate the infected sheep from the healthy part of the flock.
- diseased
More general; can describe chronic or long-term conditions, not just infections
- contaminated
Used for objects or substances that carry germs, not for living beings that are ill
- healthy
The ordinary opposite for living beings free of infection
- uninfected
A direct clinical opposite, often used in medical reports
文法句型
be infected with [disease/germ]
become infected with [disease]
infected + [person/animal/body part]
用法筆記
Often used with 'with' to name the specific germ or illness causing the infection. Can describe both people and animals. The word is more common in medical or veterinary contexts than in everyday conversation about minor illnesses.
常見錯誤
2. describes an object, substance, or surface that contains disease-causing germs o
describes an object, substance, or surface that contains disease-causing germs on or inside it, making it unsafe to touch or use without protection.
Binta dropped the infected syringe into a red disposal bin marked with a biohazard symbol.
adjective before noun describing a medical object
All infected hospital sheets must be washed in boiling water to kill the bacteria.
The lab assistant carefully sealed the infected blood samples inside a hard plastic container.
Every infected surface in the operating room was cleaned with strong disinfectant before surgery.
- contaminated
The standard alternative for objects and substances that have picked up harmful germs
- tainted
Suggests contamination by a harmful substance, not necessarily a living germ
文法句型
infected + [object/substance]
become infected
infected with [germ]
用法筆記
The object itself does not have the disease — it carries the germs that can cause it. Distinguish from sense 1 (AFFECTED BY DISEASE), where the subject is a living being that is actually ill. An infected needle is not sick; an infected patient is.
常見錯誤
3. describes a computer, file, program, or network that contains a computer virus o
describes a computer, file, program, or network that contains a computer virus or other harmful software that can damage data, steal information, or spread to other machines.
The IT department found three infected files on the main office server and deleted them immediately.
adjective before noun: infected + file / computer / system
Wei's work laptop became infected after he opened a suspicious attachment from an unknown email address.
An infected memory stick can pass the virus to any computer that it connects to.
The company's network stayed infected for two days before the security team managed to clean it.
- virus-ridden
Informal and stronger, suggesting many viruses or serious infection
- compromised
Broader term; a compromised device may be hacked but not necessarily infected with a virus
- clean
Common informal opposite for a device free of viruses
- virus-free
Explicit opposite, often used in software product descriptions
文法句型
become infected with a virus
infected + [file/computer/system]
get infected
用法筆記
Used only for computers, files, networks, and software. The most complete phrasing includes what the device is infected with: 'infected with a virus' or 'infected by malware.' Saying 'infected' alone can sound incomplete in this sense.