# infectious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃəs/ · frequency rank #9,481

## Definitions
1. Caused by an agent that enters the host's body (such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or prion); often, also, transmitted among hosts via any of various routes (for example, contact, droplet-borne, airborne, waterborne, foodborne, fomite-borne, or bloodborne).
2. Able to infect others; capable of transmitting pathogens.
3. Spreading quickly from one person to another.
4. Memorable and invoking excitement or interest.

## Etymology
Borrowed from New Latin īnfectiōsus. By surface analysis, infect + -ious.

## Easily confused with
- **injections** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infectious-vs-injections)
- **infection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infection-vs-infectious)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ifnectious`, `inefctious`, `infcetious`, `infecctious`, `infecitous`, `infectiosu`, `infectiouss`, `infectiuos`, `infectoius`, `infecttious`, `infetcious`, `inffectious`, `innfectious`, `nifectious`

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