noun · neutral

infection

UK/ɪnˈfekʃən/US/ɪnˈfɛkʃən/in·FECT·ion

Band 4-5speakingtask2

the invasion and multiplication of germs in the body that cause illness

Examples

The wound became infected and she needed antibiotics.

Hospital-acquired infections are a serious problem.

Keep the cut clean to avoid infection.

Band 8 sentence

The surgeon warned that any delay in treating the infection could lead to serious complications.

Collocations

  • infected with
  • prevent infection
  • bacterial infection

Word family

infect verbinfected adjective

Common mistakes

He was infected Covid.He was infected with Covid.

This wound will infection if not cleaned.This wound will become infected if not cleaned.

Say it for a higher band

5sickness6illness7+infection

Synonyms

contamination

sickness

Easily confused

illness

She had a short illness last week but it wasn't an infection.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Health & Fitness

Learn it with its set