1.
infected person; patient with an infection
A person who has contracted a contagious disease, especially a viral or bacterial infection. Standard term in medical and public health reporting.
Became part of everyday vocabulary during the COVID-19 pandemic. The compound is 感染 (infection) + 者 (person).
Common collocations
- 新規感染者: new infections (newly reported cases)
- 感染者数: number of infected people
- 感染者が出る: an infection case appears
- 濃厚接触者: close contact (of an infected person)
Similar words
- 患者: patient — broader; includes all illnesses, not just infectious
- 陽性者: a person who has tested positive
- 発症者: a person showing symptoms (vs. asymptomatic carrier)