Main Entry: con·tam·i·nate

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): con·tam·i·nat·ed; con·tam·i·nat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin contaminatus, past participle of contaminare; akin to Latin contingere to have contact with — more at contingent

Date: 15th century

1 a : to soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association <bacteria contaminated the wound> b : to make inferior or impure by admixture <iron contaminated with phosphorus>
2 : to make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements

— con·tam·i·na·tive \-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective

— con·tam·i·na·tor \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

synonyms contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source <water contaminated by industrial wastes>. taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination <tainted meat> <a politician's tainted reputation>. pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy <the polluted waters of the river>. defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration <defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo>.