adulteration

noun

adul·​ter·​a·​tion ə-ˌdəl-tə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the process of adulterating : the condition of being adulterated

2

: an adulterated product

Examples of adulteration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this year, after an eight-day trial and seven hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Ortiz of four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 21 Nov. 2024

Ortiz was found guilty on four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Economically motivated adulteration happens when food is misrepresented for financial gain, leading to a marketplace filled with counterfeit products that cut corners. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Lead in cinnamon and other spices can occur through two pathways: unintentional contamination and adulteration. —Hannah Singleton, Health, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adulteracion, borrowed from Latin adulterātiōn-, adulterātiō, from adulterāre "to adulterate entry 1" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

adulteration

noun

adul·​ter·​a·​tion ə-ˌdəl-tə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the process of adulterating : the condition of being adulterated

2

: an adulterated product