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INFECTIOUS

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does infectious mean?

• INFECTIOUS (adjective)
The adjective INFECTIOUS has 3 senses:

1. caused by infection or capable of causing infection
2. easily spread
3. of or relating to infection

Familiarity information: INFECTIOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.

Dictionary entry details

• INFECTIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

infectious ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Caused by infection or capable of causing infection

Synonyms:

infectious; infective

Context examples:

viruses and other infective agents / a carrier remains infective without himself showing signs of the disease

Similar:

infected; septic (containing or resulting from disease-causing organisms)

Sense 2

infectious ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Easily spread

Context example:

fear is exceedingly infectious; children catch it from their elders

Similar:

catching; communicable; contagious; contractable; transmissible; transmittable ((of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection)

contagious (easily diffused or spread as from one person to another)

contaminating; corrupting (that infects or taints)

Antonym:

noninfectious (not infectious)

Sense 3

infectious ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Of or relating to infection

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context examples:

infectious hospital / infectious disease

Pertainym:

infection (the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms)

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INFECTIOUS: related words searches

» What does septic mean?
» communicable definition
» What does contagious mean?
» transmittable: pronunciation in phonetic transcription
» contagious meaning

Related FAQs:

» INFECTIOUS

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