contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: contaminant

Synonyms

• adulterant
• contaminant
• defilement
• impurity
• pollutant

Examples of contamination in a Sentence

swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized

Recent Examples on the Web

The zircon crystals are tiny—just a 10th of a millimeter or less—and they must be separated from everything else in the sample, a process that requires extreme care to avoid contamination. —Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 8 Sep. 2024

Lowers the Risks for Secondary Contamination Traditional RO systems with storage tanks eventually face a high possibility of secondary contamination. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024

Any municipality is at risk of water contamination if a wildfire burns through its watershed. —Hannah Singleton, WIRED, 2 Sep. 2024

Oakland Unified leaders condemn communication lag, cite personnel issue in first meeting since lead contamination findings California’s water watchers are celebrating the cooperation that smoothed the passage of Bauer-Kahan’s bill. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contaminacioun, borrowed from Latin contāminātiōn-, contāminātiō "defilement, pollution," from contāmināre "to defile, pollute" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contaminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contamination

• cross contamination
• self-contamination

Medical Definition

contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: something that contaminates