infective

[ in-fek-tiv ]

adjective

1. infectious.

infective

/ ɪnˈfɛktɪv /

adjective

1. capable of causing infection
2. a less common word for infectious

Derived Forms

• inˈfectiveness, noun
• inˈfectively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·fective·ness infec·tivi·ty noun
• unin·fective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of infective¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word infectīvus. See infect, -ive

Example Sentences

But this patient was a doctor who had been treating people with Ebola in a facility awash with hyper-infective fluids.

From The Daily Beast

That in the bacilli we have … the actual infective cause of tuberculosis.

From The Daily Beast

There are other infective diseases, in which we have not yet found the causative micro-organism, but we presume its existence.

From Project Gutenberg

In acute cases of salpingitis the cœlomic ostium is open and the infective material can be seen leaking from it (Fig. 3).

From Project Gutenberg

The cause is always the absorption of some toxic or infective material from the periphery.

From Project Gutenberg

Abscess in the spleen occasionally occurs, usually in association with infective endocarditis or with general pyaemia.

From Project Gutenberg

He showed further, that by having been bred in the tissues of the cow, the virus lost its intense infective properties for man.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dangerous
• deadly
• destructive
• fatal
• lethal
• noxious
• pernicious
• toxic
• venomous
• vicious
• virulent