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infective

[ in-fek-tiv ]
/ ɪnˈfɛk tɪv /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR infective ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

infectious.

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RELATED WORDS

toxic, contagious, virulent, deadly, destructive, fatal, malignant, pernicious, noxious, dangerous, vicious, lethal, venomous, endemic, taking, pandemic, epidemic, bad, evil, poison

Nearby words

  1. infectious laryngotracheitis,
  2. infectious mononucleosis,
  3. infectious papilloma virus,
  4. infectious polyneuritis,
  5. infectious warts virus,
  6. infective embolism,
  7. infective endocarditis,
  8. infecund,
  9. infelicitous,
  10. infelicity

Origin of infective

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word infectīvus. See infect, -ive
Related formsin·fec·tive·ness, in·fec·tiv·i·ty, nounun·in·fec·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for infective

British Dictionary definitions for infective

infective

/ (ɪnˈfɛktɪv) /

adjective

capable of causing infection
a less common word for infectious
Derived Formsinfectively, adverbinfectiveness or infectivity, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for infective

infective

adj.

late 14c., from Latin infectivus, from infectus (see infect).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for infective

infective

[ ĭn-fĕk′tĭv ]

adj.

Capable of producing infection; infectious.
Related formsin•fec′tive•ness null n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.