French word

infecter

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃fɛkte/

Meaning

  • verbinfect

Example

Le virus peut infecter une personne.

The virus can infect a person.

Illustration for infecter (infect)

More examples

Un fichier téléchargé peut infecter l'ordinateur.

A downloaded file can infect the computer.

Core concept

A harmful agent enters a new host or settles on a material and remains capable of spreading.

Common phrases

  • infecter quelqu'un

    infect someone

  • infecter un ordinateur

    infect a computer

  • infecter une plaie

    infect a wound

Similar words

contaminer: To contaminate a person or object with dirt or a disease-causing agent.
transmettre: To transfer a disease-causing agent to another person or object.
propager: To spread a disease or virus to others.

Definition in French

Rendre un objet, une surface ou un organisme porteur d'agents pathogènes ou de substances nocives.

Word origin

The word entered French from Latin infectare, whose sense of staining or tainting extended to causing disease or harmful contamination.

Usage tips

  • Infecter also applies to digital objects in French, so infecter un ordinateur or infecter un fichier is standard usage.

Other meanings

  • contaminateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word