# infect

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈfɛkt/ · frequency rank #18,109

## Definitions
1. To bring (the body or part of it) into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen), so that the pathogen begins to act on the body; (of a pathogen) to come into contact with (a body or body part) and begin to act on it.
2. To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.
3. To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion, or to communicate a feeling to others, or a feeling communicating itself to others.

## Etymology
From Middle French infect, from Latin infectus, perfect passive participle of inficiō (“dye, taint”).

## Easily confused with
- **inlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-inlet)
- **infer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-infer)
- **inset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-inset)
- **invest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-invest)
- **intent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-intent)
- **insert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-insert)
- **intact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-intact)
- **insect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-insect)
- **invent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-invent)
- **inject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-inject)
- **ingest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-ingest)
- **invert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-invert)
- **insects** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-insects)
- **inspect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-inspect)
- **inflict** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-inflict)
- **infected** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-infected)
- **inept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inept-vs-infect)
- **inert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inert-vs-infect)
- **infant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infant-vs-infect)
- **incest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incest-vs-infect)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ifnect`, `inefct`, `infcet`, `infecct`, `infectt`, `infetc`, `inffect`, `innfect`, `nifect`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/infect