disinfect

verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-in-ˈfekt 

disinfected; disinfecting; disinfects

transitive verb

1

: to cleanse (a surface, a device, a supply of water, etc.) by destroying, inactivating, or significantly reducing the concentration of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (such as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)

… medical experts say some scopes can be difficult to disinfect through conventional cleaning because of their design, so bacteria are transmitted from patient to patient.

—Chad Terhune

Trihalomethanes are chemicals formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with organic matter, such as animal waste, treated sewage, leaves, or soil.

—Emily Main

Clean your humidifier often. Although some parts may be washable in the dishwasher, they still need to be descaled with vinegar and disinfected with bleach.

—Consumer Reports

2

: to relieve (something) of some undesirable quality likened to a disease or infection

But the big question is this: If the bill becomes law, will it truly disinfect our politics?

—Nancy Gibbs and Karen Tumulty

3

: to remove a software virus (see virus sense 3) from (a computer or device) often by means of a special program

The earliest viruses were relatively simple routines, and virus detectors could easily disinfect computers.

—Philips Chien

Examples of disinfect in a Sentence

Chemicals were added to disinfect the water.

The wound needs to be disinfected.

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the manufacturers of Steel Bite Pro, the supplement can help tackle these problems and help users keep their teeth and gums clean and disinfected. —Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

After soaking, wipe the brush handles and paddles with alcohol to disinfect them. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024

And be careful to disinfect tools, boots and gloves after working with a plant to prevent the transmission of the disease. —Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023

Ask whether an item has been disinfected when it is returned—most lending programs take care of that—and also whether there is staff on hand that can show you how the equipment works. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2024

On Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, staff dressed as hot dogs and pizza slices stand by the food hall imploring guests to disinfect before eating. —Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024

Authorities in the capital, Seoul, said metro operators would disinfect trains more frequently and gradually replace fabric seats with plastic ones. —Reuters, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023

Officials responded by disinfecting and pressure washing the unit, as well as contracting with a pest control agency to set out traps. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024

The only meaningful way to reduce the spread of viral pathogens such as norovirus is to disinfect the toilet, toilet water and nearby surfaces, the study found. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French desinfecter, from des- dis- + infecter to infect

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

disinfect

verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfekt 

: to cleanse of germs that might cause disease

disinfection

-ˈfek-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

disinfect

transitive verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfekt 

: to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents (as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) especially on hard surfaces and in water : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)

disinfection

-ˈfek-shən 

noun