adulterant

noun

adul·​ter·​ant ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rənt 

: an adulterating substance or agent

adulterant adjective

Synonyms of adulterant

• contamination
• contaminant
• pollutant

Examples of adulterant in a Sentence

concerned about adulterants in the town's water supply coming from the discharge from the factory

Recent Examples on the Web

If supply were tightening, researchers would expect to see more impurities in the samples, because dealers would have a greater profit incentive to dilute their product with adulterants, Nabarun Dasgupta, the head of the lab, told me. — Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Dangerous additives and adulterants should be prohibited. — Chris Carroll, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026

In a letter reviewed by CBS News, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that agency funding cannot be used to purchase test strips used to check drugs for dangerous adulterants like fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

Like many bath salts, NEP was often sold as Ecstasy or added to other drugs as an adulterant. — Jonathan Corum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1755, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

adulterant

noun

adul·​ter·​ant ə-ˈdəl-tə-rənt 

: something used to adulterate another thing

Medical Definition

adulterant

noun

adul·​ter·​ant ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rənt 

: an adulterating substance or agent

adulterant adjective