decontaminate
verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt 
decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates
: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)
Examples of decontaminate in a Sentence
Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.
Recent Examples on the Web
The bodies must be decontaminated before being taken to the corner’s office, local authorities said.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
More than a dozen first responders were quarantined and decontaminated after responding to the scene.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
After everyone on board has disembarked, the ship will be decontaminated based on Dutch public health guidelines.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Staff put the man in restraints and took him away to decontaminate.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
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Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
More than a dozen first responders were quarantined and decontaminated after responding to the scene.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
After everyone on board has disembarked, the ship will be decontaminated based on Dutch public health guidelines.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
Staff put the man in restraints and took him away to decontaminate.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decontaminate. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decontaminate
verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt
: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates
Medical Definition
decontaminate
transitive verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt
decontaminated; decontaminating
: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)
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