infection

[in-fek-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or fact of infecting; state of being infected.

2. an infecting with germs of disease, as through the medium of infected insects, air, water, or clothing.

3. an infecting agency or influence.

4. an infectious disease.

   Is this infection very dangerous?

5. the condition of suffering an infection.

6. corruption of another's opinions, beliefs, moral principles, etc.; moral contamination.

7. an influence or impulse passing from one to another and affecting feeling or action.

8. Grammar.,  (in Celtic languages) assimilation in which a vowel is influenced by a following vowel or semivowel; umlaut.

infection

/ ɪnˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms

2. the resulting condition in the tissues

3. an infectious disease

4. the act of infecting or state of being infected

5. an agent or influence that infects

6. persuasion or corruption, as by ideas, perverse influences, etc

infection

1. The invasion of the body of a human or an animal by a pathogen such as a bacterium, fungus, or virus. Infections can be localized, as in pharyngitis, or widespread as in sepsis, and are often accompanied by fever and an increased number of white blood cells. Individuals with immunodeficiency syndromes are predisposed to certain infections.

2. See also infectious disease opportunistic infection

infection

1. Invasion of the body or a body part by a pathogenic organism, which multiplies and produces harmful effects on the body's tissues.

Other Word Forms

• noninfection noun
• postinfection adjective
• preinfection noun
• reinfection noun
• subinfection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of infection¹

1350–1400; Middle English infeccio ( u ) n < Late Latin infectiōn- (stem of infectiō ). See infect, -ion

Example Sentences

They said my infection was proof the vaccines don’t work.

From Los Angeles Times

She had perotinitis, an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen, often caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.

From BBC

The rate at which COVID-19 lab tests are confirming infection also continues to rise statewide and in the Los Angeles area.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have a slightly dysfunctional immune system and am really susceptible to infections with big changes in life, or disruption to sleep and environmental stresses," said the 37-year-old.

From BBC

The rate at which coronavirus lab tests are confirming infection also continues to rise statewide and in the Los Angeles area.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bug 
• disease 
• epidemic 
• flu 
• pollution 
• virus