con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt 
1
a
: union or junction of surfaces
Cooling begins when the lava makes contact with the air.
b
: the apparent touching or mutual tangency of the limbs of two celestial bodies or of the disk of one body with the shadow of another during an eclipse, transit, or occultation
c(1)
: the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes
(2)
: a special part made for such a junction
The remote control wasn't working because the battery contacts needed to be cleaned.
2
a
: association, relationship
students and teachers in daily contact
b
: connection, communication
I lost contact with her years ago.
c
: an establishing of communication with someone or an observing or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object
radar contact with Mars
3
: a person serving as a go-between, messenger, connection, or source of special information
business contacts
4
: contact lens
She wears contacts more often than glasses.
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
kən-ˈtakt
kən-ˈtakt
contacted; contacting; contacts
: to make contact
the point at which the two surfaces contact
1
: to bring into contact
2
a
: to enter or be in contact with : join
The spark contacted the gunpowder.
b
: to get in communication with
Contact your local dealer.
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
: maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact
contact poisons
contact sports
contact dermatitis
Examples of contact in a Sentence
Noun
Physical contact between a mother and child is very important.
a disease that is spread by sexual contact
Contacts between the two leaders have been frequent in recent weeks.
I applied for a job at that law firm because I have a contact there.
Verb
For more information, contact the city's tourism office.
We were able to contact them by radio.
She contacted everyone on the list.
Adjective
Ice hockey is a contact sport.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Smith, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Mercury enters Sagittarius today, intensifying interactions with neighbors, friends, and contacts in your social network.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
For more details on the claims process or to download a claim form, visit the Hoosier Lottery Winners page or contact the customer service team at 1-800-955-6886.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 13 Dec. 2025
Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
McAvoy took part in the morning skate while wearing a non-contact jersey, though coach Marco Sturm told reporters in Brighton that there’s still no timeline.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contact
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Zuccarello took a big open ice hit with head contact in Monday’s game, and Middleton left the game early.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Mercury enters Sagittarius today, intensifying interactions with neighbors, friends, and contacts in your social network.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
Warren police say dispatch contacted the woman, who made statements about potential involvement in the man's death and threats toward officers.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
For more details on the claims process or to download a claim form, visit the Hoosier Lottery Winners page or contact the customer service team at 1-800-955-6886.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 13 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Not even one quarter into the game, Antetokounmpo was back in the locker room getting looked at after what appeared to be a non-contact injury.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
McAvoy took part in the morning skate while wearing a non-contact jersey, though coach Marco Sturm told reporters in Brighton that there’s still no timeline.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contact
Cite this Entry
“Contact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contact
1 of 3 noun
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
1
: a meeting or touching of surfaces
2
: the connection of two electrical conductors through which a current passes or a part made for such a connection
3
: a person one knows who has influence especially in the business or political world
our contacts in Los Angeles may be able to assist you
4
: an establishing of communication especially with someone or something distant
make contact by radio
5
contact
2 of 3 verb
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
kən-ˈtakt
1
: to bring or come into contact
2
: to get in touch or communication with
contact your local dealer for details
contact
3 of 3 adjective
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
: involving or acting upon contact
football and ice hockey are contact sports
contact insecticides
Etymology
Noun
from French contact or Latin contactus, both meaning "a touching of body surfaces," from Latin contingere "to have contact with, affect, happen," from con-, com- "with, together" and tangere "to touch" — related to contagious, contingent, tangent, tangible
Medical Definition
contact
1 of 2 noun
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
1
: union or junction of body surfaces
sexual contact
2
a
: the junction of two electrical conductors through which a current passes
b
: a special part that has been made for such a junction
3
: direct experience through the senses
loss of contact with reality
4
contact
2 of 2 adjective
: caused or transmitted by direct or indirect contact (as with an allergen or a contagious disease)
a contact allergy
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