Infection: meaning, definitions and examples

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infection

[ ɪnˈfɛkʃən ]

^{Context #1}

medical

The process of infecting or the state of being infected; contamination by germs, viruses, or other harmful organisms.

Synonyms

contagion, contamination, transmission

Examples of usage

Infection can spread rapidly in crowded areas.
Antibiotics are often used to treat bacterial infections.
The doctor diagnosed her with a viral infection.

^{Context #2}

general

The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, causing cell injury and disease.

Synonyms

infestation, invasion

Examples of usage

An infection in the throat can cause difficulty swallowing.
Skin infections can result from cuts or wounds.
Regular hand washing can help prevent the spread of infections.

^{Context #3}

computing

The unauthorized access and unwanted spread of harmful software or code in a computer system.

Synonyms

malware, virus

Examples of usage

The IT department is working to contain the infection in the network.
Users are advised to update their antivirus software to prevent infections.

Translations

Translations of the word "infection" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infecção

🇮🇳 संक्रमण

🇩🇪 Infektion

🇮🇩 infeksi

🇺🇦 інфекція

🇵🇱 infekcja

🇯🇵 感染 (かんせん)

🇫🇷 infection

🇪🇸 infección

🇹🇷 enfeksiyon

🇰🇷 감염 (gamyeom)

🇸🇦 عدوى

🇨🇿 infekce

🇸🇰 infekcia

🇨🇳 感染 (gǎnrǎn)

🇸🇮 okužba

🇮🇸 sýking

🇰🇿 инфекция

🇬🇪 ინფექცია

🇦🇿 infeksiya

🇲🇽 infección

Word origin

The word 'infection' originated from the Latin word 'infectio', meaning 'contamination' or 'defilement'. The concept of infection has been recognized throughout history, with early civilizations attributing diseases to supernatural causes. It wasn't until the development of the germ theory of disease in the 19th century that the understanding of infections shifted towards microorganisms as the primary cause. Today, infections are a common concern in both medical and technological fields, with ongoing efforts to prevent and treat them.