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 of contamination

• contaminant
• 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

The reduction correlates to the elimination of FDA support staff roles, or personnel who booked travel and carried out food testing for contamination, creating an administrative slowdown to efficiently carry out key safety and inspection protocol. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026

Priority violations include prevention of contamination, cooking, reheating, cooling and handwashing. — Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2026

The actual lifespan of the cooling water depends on contamination. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026

The mess included broken dishes and glasses, ceiling damage, food and other inventory that had to be discarded because of contamination, Fox 16 KLRT previously reported. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for contamination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

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