Infective vs Contagious - What's the difference?

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.

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

(en adjective)

Able to cause infection; infectious

(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 .}}

* immune * susceptible

(wikipedia contagious)

(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.

* (of a disease) catching, infectious * infectious

* non-contagious

* contagiousness * contagion