WordValeasymptomatic
having a condition without showing symptoms
In more detail
having no symptoms of a disease or illness, even though the disease or illness may be present in the body
Examples
- Many people infected with the virus are asymptomatic and don't realize they are sick.
How to use asymptomatic
Asymptomatic is primarily used in medical and epidemiological contexts to describe individuals who have a disease or infection but do not experience or display typical symptoms. It is important for understanding disease transmission, particularly with contagious illnesses, and is more precise and technical than the informal phrase symptom-free, which may imply complete absence of disease.
Common phrases
- asymptomatic carrier
- asymptomatic infection
- asymptomatic case
- asymptomatic COVID-19
- remain asymptomatic
Synonyms
symptom-free · without symptoms · showing no signs
Opposites
symptomatic
Word family
asymptomatic (adjective) · asymptomatically (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse asymptomatic with symptomatic or assume it means the person does not have the disease at all, when in fact an asymptomatic person may still carry and transmit infection.
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