French word

infect

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃fɛkt/

Meaning

  • adjectivedisgusting

Example

Cette odeur est infecte.

This smell is disgusting.

Illustration for infect (disgusting)

More examples

L'ambiance de la pièce était infecte.

The atmosphere in the room was foul.

Core concept

An intensely foul presence, whether a stench or a visibly filthy object.

Common phrases

  • odeur infecte

    foul smell

  • ambiance infecte

    foul atmosphere

Similar words

sale: Covered in dirt or lacking cleanliness, and unpleasant to approach or touch.
dégoûtant: Strongly revolting when seen, smelled, or even imagined.
puant: Extremely smelly, with a harsh odor that can make breathing uncomfortable.

Definition in French

Qui sent très mauvais ou paraît sale au point de provoquer le dégoût.

Word origin

French borrowed infect from Latin infectus, the past participle of inficere, a verb for staining, polluting, or tainting something.

Usage tips

  • French infect is a false friend of English infect: it describes foulness or disgust, while infecté is used for biological infection.

Other meanings

  • nastyadjective
  • foul-smellingadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word