Meaning & use
infection
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountablemedical
The process in which harmful microorganisms enter the body and multiply, often causing illness.
Grammar: Can be countable (an infection) or uncountable (the risk of infection).
Patterns
- contract an infection
- fight off an infection
- a bacterial infection
He was hospitalized with a severe lung infection.
Washing your hands helps prevent infection.
The wound became infected, so she needed antibiotics.
nouncountablemedical
A disease caused by microorganisms.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- a viral infection
- a fungal infection
- an ear infection
She caught a viral infection and had to stay home.
Ear infections are common in young children.
The doctor prescribed cream for the fungal infection.
noununcountablemedical
The act of spreading a disease from one person to another.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used with 'of' or 'from'.
Patterns
- the infection of someone
- spread infection
The infection of the patient occurred through a contaminated needle.
Isolation can prevent the infection of others.
Word forms
| plural | infections |
|---|
Common combinations
- bacterial infection
- The bacterial infection required antibiotics.
- viral infection
- A viral infection usually clears up on its own.
- risk of infection
- There is a high risk of infection after surgery.
- fight an infection
- The body's immune system fights the infection.
- source of infection
- The water was identified as the source of infection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disease
- A disease is a broader term for any condition that harms health, while an infection specifically involves microorganisms.
- contagion
- Contagion emphasizes the spread of disease from person to person; infection focuses on the invasion of the body.
- contamination
- Contamination refers to the presence of harmful substances or germs, often on objects, while infection is in the body.
Word family
- infect verb
- To pass a disease to someone or something.
- infectious adjective
- Capable of spreading disease; also used for emotions that spread quickly.
- infected adjective
- Having an infection; contaminated with germs.
Commonly confused: infection or inflammation?
infection vs inflammation
Inflammation is the body's response (redness, swelling, heat) and can happen without infection.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'infection' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Only the first sentence uses 'infection' in its medical sense. The others misuse the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “infection”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.