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 results raised long-standing concerns over the quality of work and whether the lingering contamination could present risks to the residents. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Giving it another wash isn’t a workaround, since pathogens can be hard to remove completely and contamination may not be limited to the surface. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Pathogens can be difficult to get rid of completely, and the contamination may go deeper than the surface. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

That includes soil or fertilizer in the field, farmworkers’ hands, processing and shipping, other shoppers and cross-contamination at home. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 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