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

But, as steel casings corrode and seabed activity increases, engineers are growing increasingly concerned that weapons once assumed inert are becoming sources of long-term contamination. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026

Food Is Not Protected From Cross-contamination, Or Other Contamination, During Storage, Preparation, Holding, Display Or Is In Contact With Unclean Surfaces. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026

Carrots were the likely source of the glass contamination, according to the USDA announcement earlier in March. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026

Today, light pollution and satellite contamination steal those pristine views from many of us. —Big Think, 23 Mar. 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