putrefaction
noun
pu·tre·fac·tion
ˌpyü-trə-ˈfak-shən 
1
: the decomposition of organic matter
especially
: the typically anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products
2
: the state of being putrefied : corruption
Synonyms
Examples of putrefaction in a Sentence
clearing the refrigerator of what the previous tenant had left behind was like taking a course in the advanced putrefaction of leftovers
Recent Examples on the Web
Not the smell of putrefaction, though the novel is littered with rotting corpses.
—
Nathaniel Rich, The New York Review of Books, 30 Nov. 2023
Gut bacteria, especially a class of microbes called Clostridia, spread through your organs and digest you from the inside out in a process called putrefaction.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Once the body is out of sight underground, embalmed tissues eventually melt into a toxic putrefaction.
—Joan Meiners, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
At the second month, both forelegs and hindlegs were partly skeletonized, and the abdomen and back showed advanced putrefaction.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
At the third month, the samples showed areas of mummification at the abdomen within a general context of initial putrefaction.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
At the first month, initial putrefaction had started, and hindlegs were partly skeletonized.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
It’s autolysis and putrefaction that cause things like discoloration and other skin changes, as well as bloating.
—Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2021
Those oozing hills shift, belch, and mist their surroundings with the odor of putrefaction.
—Curbed, 12 Aug. 2022
Nathaniel Rich, The New York Review of Books, 30 Nov. 2023
Gut bacteria, especially a class of microbes called Clostridia, spread through your organs and digest you from the inside out in a process called putrefaction.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Once the body is out of sight underground, embalmed tissues eventually melt into a toxic putrefaction.
—Joan Meiners, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
At the second month, both forelegs and hindlegs were partly skeletonized, and the abdomen and back showed advanced putrefaction.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
At the third month, the samples showed areas of mummification at the abdomen within a general context of initial putrefaction.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
At the first month, initial putrefaction had started, and hindlegs were partly skeletonized.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2015
It’s autolysis and putrefaction that cause things like discoloration and other skin changes, as well as bloating.
—Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2021
Those oozing hills shift, belch, and mist their surroundings with the odor of putrefaction.
—Curbed, 12 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'putrefaction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near putrefaction
Cite this Entry
“Putrefaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/putrefaction. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
putrefaction
noun
pu·tre·fac·tion
ˌpyü-trə-ˈfak-shən
1
: the rotting of organic matter
2
: the state of being putrefied : corruption
Medical Definition
putrefaction
noun
pu·tre·fac·tion
ˌpyü-trə-ˈfak-shən
1
: the decomposition of organic matter
especially
: the typically anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products
2
: the state of being putrefied
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