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infectious — capable of being transmitted from one person to another through infection

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: capable of being transmitted from one person to another through infection

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈfekʃəs/

Example Sentences

  • My friend's yawn was so infectious that the entire meeting room started yawning like dominoes.
  • The doctor warned that the patient's condition was infectious and required isolation.
  • Her infectious energy turned our boring study group into a dance party.

infectious

ADJECTIVE

[/ɪnˈfekʃəs/]

capable of being transmitted from one person to another through infection

capable of being transmitted from one person to another through infection
💡 Concept

capable of being transmitted from one person to another through infection

Fear can infect an entire crowd faster than facts during a crisis. (IN + effect → infection happens when a harmful EFFECT gets IN and begins spreading through a system, body, or group)
🧠 Mnemonic

Fear can infect an entire crowd faster than facts during a crisis. (IN + effect → infection happens when a harmful EFFECT gets IN and begins spreading through a system, body, or group)

False information infected public opinion, affected trust, and was eventually rejected by experts.
🎵 Rhyme

False information infected public opinion, affected trust, and was eventually rejected by experts.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪnˈfekʃəs/
🇬🇧 UK/ɪnˈfekʃəs/

🌳Etymology

Prefixin--
Rootfect
Suffix--ious

Origin

Derived from Latin, the word originates from the concept of 'entering inward and defiling' and evolved to its modern sense of 'capable of spreading infection or disease'. The term developed through medieval and early modern medical terminology to describe the transmission of pathogens.

Breakdown

in- (into, inward) + facere (to make, to do) + -ous (adjective suffix). The root 'facere' combines with the prefix to form 'inficere' (to taint or contaminate), which then receives the adjectival suffix to indicate the quality of being capable of causing infection.

🎵Rhyme

ambitiousnutritioussuspicious
ambitious
nutritious
suspicious

🔗Collocations

infectious disease
infectious smile
highly infectious
infectious enthusiasm
infectious agent
infectious laughter

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My friend's yawn was so infectious that the entire meeting room started yawning like dominoes.”

“The doctor warned that the patient's condition was infectious and required isolation.”

😄 Fun example

“Her infectious energy turned our boring study group into a dance party.”

“COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease that spread globally.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

contagioustransmissiblecommunicablecatching

Antonyms

non-infectioussterileclean

Related

infectioninfectcontaminateepidemicvirusbacteria

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