disinfection

noun

dis·​in·​fec·​tion ˌdis-in-ˈfek-shən 

plural disinfections

: the act of disinfecting something

especially : the process of using a disinfectant to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi)

Both viruses are susceptible to disinfection by a weak solution of chlorine bleach.

—Margaret Reister

… a virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreads beyond hospital walls, some communities are taking extreme measures such as closing schools for disinfection.

—Laura Landro

Examples of disinfection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many franchises also installed disinfection and ventilation technology in their facilities during the pandemic that could remain useful today. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2026

Its disinfecting powers are unparalleled, especially for deep-cleaning tasks that require strong disinfection. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026

The water then passes through a UV light for an extra step of disinfection before it’s released into the air. —Euna Park, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

In this case, the researchers liken the worker ants who carry out the disinfection process to our own immune cells which are attracted to diseased cells by chemical signals. —New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disinfection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection
• introspection