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 camera's flash wasn't working because the electrical 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
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.
Is contact a verb?: Usage Guide
The use of contact as a verb, especially in sense 2b, is accepted as standard by almost all commentators except those who write college handbooks.
con·tact
ˈkän-ˌtakt
: maintaining, involving, or activated or caused by contact
contact poisons
contact sports
contact dermatitis
Synonyms
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
The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Bank records reviewed by investigators showed that the contact information on the account was changed to link it to Mizuhara’s phone number and an email account also connected to the interpreter.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Francesco has been ordered to have no contact with his dad or brother, and must stay at least 100 yards away from their homes, their cars and their workplaces.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
While many choose to hire a planner around a year before the wedding (but not always), the contact between the planner and the couple can be surprisingly regular.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, notes that in July last year seven men were arrested in Germany suspected of planning high-profile attacks and being in contact with ISIS-K planners.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Zelensky was calling nonstop for updates — tethering her to WiFi to stay in contact.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Fernández also says the music industry must remain in close contact with the scientific community about the latest climate change projections to make any real progress.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, humans should always keep a safe distance from wildlife and never attempt physical contact with the animals.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
User passwords have been automatically reset, and users affected by the security breach will be contacted by Roku, the company said in a statement.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run can contact Glendale police at 623-930-300, or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or in Spanish at 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446).
—The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
Pew researchers contacted more than 2,500 K-12 teachers conducted last fall as part of the national survey.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Regan claimed that Simpson’s legal team contacted her in a 2006 interview, which became public in 2018.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone who sees the suspect should avoid contacting him and call 911 immediately, referencing Plano police incident #24-77047.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information for investigators can contact the SJPD homicide unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information about the incident, including video footage, is encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers, to provide an anonymous tip.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Marvin Loría came off in the 80th minute due to a non-contact leg injury, holding his hamstring.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with 4 points in 9 minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with four points in nine minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chron, 11 Mar. 2023
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams, whose strong arm and threat as a runner had ignited Indiana’s offense near the end of this season, left Saturday’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue with an apparent non-contact injury to his right leg.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Wright is still in a yellow non-contact jersey but was participating in practice.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2023
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, was still wearing a red, non-contact jersey on the practice field Thursday.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022
Parker, who has practiced sparingly in a red non-contact jersey since training camp, and Wilson each participated in Wednesday’s practice without limitations, which is a sign that they could be cleared to play in Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.
—Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Sep. 2021
Noun
The statute explicitly prohibits targeting Americans for surveillance — including by indirection (i.e., targeting non-Americans only as a pretext to spy on Americans with whom the foreigners are in contact).
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Bank records reviewed by investigators showed that the contact information on the account was changed to link it to Mizuhara’s phone number and an email account also connected to the interpreter.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Francesco has been ordered to have no contact with his dad or brother, and must stay at least 100 yards away from their homes, their cars and their workplaces.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
While many choose to hire a planner around a year before the wedding (but not always), the contact between the planner and the couple can be surprisingly regular.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, notes that in July last year seven men were arrested in Germany suspected of planning high-profile attacks and being in contact with ISIS-K planners.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Zelensky was calling nonstop for updates — tethering her to WiFi to stay in contact.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Fernández also says the music industry must remain in close contact with the scientific community about the latest climate change projections to make any real progress.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, humans should always keep a safe distance from wildlife and never attempt physical contact with the animals.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sometime that day, Milwaukee police contact the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, which was investigating the leg found in Cudahy, about Robinson being missing.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
User passwords have been automatically reset, and users affected by the security breach will be contacted by Roku, the company said in a statement.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run can contact Glendale police at 623-930-300, or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or in Spanish at 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446).
—The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
Pew researchers contacted more than 2,500 K-12 teachers conducted last fall as part of the national survey.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Regan claimed that Simpson’s legal team contacted her in a 2006 interview, which became public in 2018.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone who sees the suspect should avoid contacting him and call 911 immediately, referencing Plano police incident #24-77047.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information for investigators can contact the SJPD homicide unit at 408-277-5283 or email Detective Sgt.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Anyone with information about the incident, including video footage, is encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers, to provide an anonymous tip.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The most common injuries in football are strains and sprains, which happen in both contact and non-contact settings, along with dislocations, fractures and concussions.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Marvin Loría came off in the 80th minute due to a non-contact leg injury, holding his hamstring.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with 4 points in 9 minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The senior guard never returned after the non-contact injury, finishing with four points in nine minutes.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chron, 11 Mar. 2023
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams, whose strong arm and threat as a runner had ignited Indiana’s offense near the end of this season, left Saturday’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue with an apparent non-contact injury to his right leg.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Wright is still in a yellow non-contact jersey but was participating in practice.
—Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 20 Mar. 2023
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who was limited in Wednesday’s practice, was still wearing a red, non-contact jersey on the practice field Thursday.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022
Parker, who has practiced sparingly in a red non-contact jersey since training camp, and Wilson each participated in Wednesday’s practice without limitations, which is a sign that they could be cleared to play in Sunday’s season opener against the New England Patriots.
—Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
borrowed from French & Latin; French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin contāctus "touching, joining of surfaces, association," from contag-, variant stem of contingere "to be in contact with, arrive at, affect, fall to one's lot" + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at contingent entry 1
Verb
derivative of contact entry 1
Adjective
derivative of contact entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1834, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Adjective
1859, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing contact
Articles Related to contact
Dictionary Entries Near contact
Cite this Entry
“Contact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contact. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on contact
Nglish: Translation of contact for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of contact for Arabic Speakers
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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