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

Instant noodles sold across the country have been recalled for potential peanut contamination. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 14 May 2026

And its decades-long history as a military installation, prior to being used as a prison, raises additional concerns of soil contamination, the report added. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 14 May 2026

The Eaton Fire torched vehicles in driveways, leaving behind metal contamination. —Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026

While these materials are often considered waste in other reactor types due to high contamination levels, the EAGL-1 fast-spectrum system uses them as a primary energy source. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 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