A disease that is infectious can be caught by being near a person who has it. Compare contagious.
...infectious diseases such as measles.
These viruses affect children and are highly infectious.
Synonyms: catching, spreading, contagious, communicable More Synonyms of infectious
2. adjective
If a feeling is infectious, it spreads to other people.
She radiates an infectious enthusiasm for everything she does.
There was a peal of laughter down the phone, which Harry found infectious.
infectious in British English
(ɪnˈfɛkʃəs)
adjective
1.
(of a disease) capable of being transmitted
Compare contagious
2.
(of a disease) caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoa
3.
causing or transmitting infection
4.
tending or apt to spread, as from one person to another
infectious mirth
5. international law
a.
tainting or capable of tainting with illegality
b.
rendering liable to seizure or forfeiture
Derived forms
infectiously (inˈfectiously)
adverb
infectiousness (inˈfectiousness)
noun
infectious in American English
(ɪnˈfɛkʃəs)
adjective
1.
likely to cause infection; containing disease-producing organisms or matter
2.
designating a disease that can be communicated by infection (sense 2)
3.
tending to spread or to affect others; catching
an infectious laugh
4. Obsolete
infected with disease
Derived forms
infectiously (inˈfectiously)
adverb
infectiousness (inˈfectiousness)
noun
Examples of 'infectious' in a sentence
infectious
The highly infectious disease was thought to have been virtually wiped out here by the vaccine.
The Sun (2016)
Equally foreign to these parts are his sideline antics and infectious enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His enthusiasm is utterly infectious.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
LONDON Zoo has shut down its bird enclosures amid fears they could catch a highly infectious strain of avian flu.
The Sun (2016)
He was a warm, big-hearted man with an infectious laugh and a smile that would light up the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's good the enthusiasm is infectious as the overly polished, shallow action misses the point and rings hollow.
The Sun (2017)
We have forgotten how important enforced isolation is in the control of infectious disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is highly infectious and is lethal in more than half of all cases.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They love being with him and bathing themselves in his sense of fun and that infectious laugh.
Chris Gidney CELEBRATING SECOMBE: A Tribute to Sir Harry Secombe (2002)
These all flourish as a result of his infectious enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We will miss both her and her infectious smile.
The Sun (2007)
You find fun in the unlikeliest of places and your laughter is infectious.
The Sun (2015)
It is also proof that enthusiasm is a highly infectious disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She is hilarious with such an infectious laugh.
The Sun (2013)
His enthusiasm is infectious and while verging on the evangelical he is no maverick loner.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She had an enigmatic smile and an infectious giggle.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Poor sanitation always leads to the spread of disease and to deaths from infectious diseases.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
Her infectious laugh was guaranteed to brighten your day.
The Sun (2011)
He tells them this with laughter and infectious enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He gives one of his infectious laughs and shrugs.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He had an easy charm and an infectious enthusiasm for people and places.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His brother officers loved him dearly and we will remember him for his infectious smile and wicked sense of humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Protection zones were set up and cattle culled within hours as a precaution after displaying symptoms of the highly infectious disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Then she bursts into infectious laughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is highly infectious and is spread when an infected person coughs and sheds the bacteria which is then inhaled by another.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our world will be a bleaker place without him, his infectious laughter and fantastic sense of humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's like an infectious disease they've all caught.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
Think how infectious laughter is - no matter that you "know not why "- it is a subconscious reaction to humour.
Mansfield, Patricia Why Am I Afraid to be Assertive? (1994)
In other languages
infectious
British English: infectious /ɪnˈfɛkʃəs/ ADJECTIVE
If you have an infectious disease, people near you can catch it from you.
...infectious diseases such as measles.
American English: infectious
Arabic: مُعِدٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: infeccioso
Chinese: 有传染性的
Croatian: zarazan
Czech: infekční
Danish: smitsom
Dutch: besmettelijk
European Spanish: infeccioso
Finnish: tarttuva
French: infectieux
German: ansteckend
Greek: μολυσματικός
Italian: infettivo
Japanese: 感染性の
Korean: 전염성인
Norwegian: smittsom
Polish: zakaźny
European Portuguese: infecioso
Romanian: infecțios
Russian: инфекционный
Latin American Spanish: infeccioso
Swedish: smittsam
Thai: ติดเชื้อ
Turkish: bulaşıcı
Ukrainian: інфекційний
Vietnamese: lây nhiễm
All related terms of 'infectious'
infectious disease
a disease caused by microorganisms , such as bacteria , viruses , or protozoa
infectious laugh
When you laugh , you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused . People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly .
infectious hepatitis
any form of hepatitis caused by viruses
infectious keratitis
an acute contagious inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye, characterized by redness, discharge , etc: usually caused by bacterial infection
infectious enterohepatitis
a black-tipped plug of fatty matter clogging a pore of the skin, esp the duct of a sebaceous gland
infectious mononucleosis
an acute infectious disease, caused by Epstein-Barr virus , characterized by fever , sore throat , swollen and painful lymph nodes , and abnormal lymphocytes in the blood
equine infectious anemia
a viral disease of horses, similar to malaria , characterized by sudden fever , swelling , and anemia ; swamp fever
equine infectious anaemia
a viral disease of horses, donkeys , and mules characterized by fever , anaemia , jaundice , depression , and weight loss
infectious canine hepatitis
a disease of dogs caused by an adenovirus and characterized by signs of liver disease
Chinese translation of 'infectious'
infectious
(ɪnˈfɛkʃəs)
adj
[disease]传(傳)染的 (chuánrǎn de)
[enthusiasm, laughter]有感染力的 (yǒu gǎnrǎnlì de)
(adjective)
Definition
(of a disease) capable of being transmitted without actual contact
infectious diseases such as measles
Synonyms
catching
There are those who think eczema is catching.
spreading
contagious
I felt like I had some contagious disease.
communicable
communicable diseases such as Ebola
poisoning
corrupting
contaminating
polluting
virulent
defiling
infective
vitiating
pestilential
a pestilential disease
transmittable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of communicable
Definition
(of a disease) capable of being passed on easily
communicable diseases such as Ebola
Synonyms
infectious,
catching,
contagious,
transferable,
transmittable
in the sense of contagious
Definition
(of a disease) capable of being passed on by contact