contaminated

adjective

con·​tam·​i·​nat·​ed kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd 

1

: soiled, stained, corrupted, or infected by contact or association

a contaminated wound

Urine and feces of infected cats and contaminated clothing, bedding, food bowls or toys are also possible modes of transmission.

—Cat Fancy

2

: made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements

Botulinum toxin is a highly lethal substance which causes death … when contaminated food is improperly canned or stored.

—John Laffin

… the material could be used as a filter for cleaning contaminated drinking water.

—Alexandra Goho

Synonyms of contaminated

• polluted
• thinned
• diluted
• dilute
• tainted

Examples of contaminated in a Sentence

the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply

Recent Examples on the Web

The funding places the Salisbury-area project within a broader statewide effort to address PFAS, a class of chemicals increasingly found in public water systems, particularly in rural communities, as Maryland officials move to replace or treat contaminated supplies. —Josh Davis, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026

Soil can erode, water can become contaminated, and wildlife can still be harmed. —Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026

Swimming in contaminated water can lead to gastroenteritis that appears up to 12 days later, or other types of infections or illnesses. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Crews spent hours after the fire was out taking inventory and clearing out contaminated equipment. —Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of contaminate

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for contaminated

• abbreviated
• accelerated
• accentuated
• accommodated
• acculturated
• accumulated
• acidulated
• adjudicated
• administrated
• adulterated
• affiliated
• agglomerated