infectious
infectious Lexical Profile
infectious Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
(Of a disease or disease-causing organism) likely to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc., through the environment.
"Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be prevented through vaccination."
Likely to spread quickly and influence or affect others in an irresistible way (especially of an emotion, mood, or laugh).
"Her infectious enthusiasm for the project soon inspired the entire research team."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict medical usage, 'infectious' describes diseases caused by pathogens (such as bacteria or viruses) that can enter the body through various means like water, air, or insect bites, whereas 'contagious' specifically refers to diseases transmitted through direct or indirect contact between individuals.
• Rhymes for infectious
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English, derived from Late Latin infectiosus, from Latin infectio ('a tainting or dyeing'), which stems from the verb inficere ('to dip in, stain, or spoil').