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Definition of infective

infective

/ɪnˈfɛk.tɪv/
in · fec · tive
Adverb:infectively
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infective Lexical Profile

infective Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Capable of causing infection, or relating to a disease or condition caused by a pathogenic microorganism.

Example

"The cardiologist ordered a series of blood cultures to rule out infective endocarditis."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for infective
Antonyms
View all antonyms for infective

Word Nuance & Usage

While often interchangeable with 'infectious' in medical contexts (as in 'infective endocarditis'), 'infective' is strictly literal and clinical, whereas 'infectious' is also used figuratively for things that spread rapidly among people, such as 'infectious laughter'.

• Rhymes for infective

• Nearby Words

infectious
infectiously
infectiousness
infective
infectiveness
infector
infer

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late Middle English period from Old French infectif or directly from Late Latin infectivus, derived from the Latin verb inficere ('to stain, taint, or spoil').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Infective. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/infective
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