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

This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 7 June 2024

But the colleague found evidence of contamination in the DNA samples in the case, which would have required additional steps to address. —Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 5 June 2024

Chia seed products can have heavy metal contamination, but Navita’s product has been third-party tested and has been shown to have safe levels. —Suzie Finkel Ms, Rd, Cdn, Health, 26 May 2024

Furiosa has been lucky enough to have been raised in a secluded secret spot known as the Green Place, an area that has thus far managed to avoid the contamination and poisoning that turned the rest of the movie's world into the barely inhabitable Wasteland. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 15 May 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