contaminated

adjective

con·​tam·​i·​nat·​ed kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd 

1

: soiled, stained, corrupted, or infected by contact or association

a contaminated wound

Urine and feces of infected cats and contaminated clothing, bedding, food bowls or toys are also possible modes of transmission.

—Cat Fancy

2

: made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements

Botulinum toxin is a highly lethal substance which causes death, even in developed countries, when contaminated food is improperly canned or stored.

—John Laffin

… the material could be used as a filter for cleaning contaminated drinking water.

—Alexandra Goho

Synonyms

• adulterate
• adulterated
• alloyed
• dilute
• diluted
• impure
• polluted
• tainted
• thinned
• weakened

Examples of contaminated in a Sentence

the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply

Recent Examples on the Web

The disease spreads easily through contact with blood and bodily fluids from someone who is sick and through contaminated objects like clothing or bedding. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025

Trump, in an executive order, has called for the heads of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the EPA and other U.S. agencies to develop a plan to speed up the removal of debris — including contaminated material. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025

Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials and can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025

Outbreaks between 2015 and 2017, in Georgia homeless shelters, and a 2021 nationwide outbreak resulting from patients infected from contaminated bone grafts have been larger, the federal agency said in an email. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of contaminate

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1