What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Infective vs Contagious - What's the difference?

infective | contagious |

As adjectives the difference between infective and contagious

is that infective is able to cause infection; infectious while contagious is of a disease, easily transmitted to others.

As a noun infective

is (epidemiology) a person who is capable of spreading a disease by infecting others.

infective

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Able to cause infection; infectious
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (epidemiology) A person who is capable of spreading a disease by infecting others
  • * {{quote-book, 2002, Belinda Barnes & Glenn Fulford, Mathematical Modeling with Case Studies citation
  • , passage=It is evident that the greater the number of susceptibles, then the greater the increase in the number of infectives .}}

    Coordinate terms

    * immune * susceptible

    contagious

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of a disease, easily transmitted to others.
  • The flu was so contagious that everybody in town got sick!
  • Of a fashion, laughter, etc., easily passed on to others.
  • Wearing jeans was a contagious fad at that time.
  • Of a person, having a disease that can be transmitted to another person by touch.
  • They were highly contagious , spreading bacteria to other people.

    Synonyms

    * (of a disease) catching, infectious * infectious

    Antonyms

    * non-contagious

    Derived terms

    * contagiousness * contagion