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

Once deployed, the drone can autonomously locate and characterize CBRN threats, giving operators a safer way to understand the risks present in contaminated areas. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 June 2026

By gaining new traits, these altered organisms might pose a novel invasion threat to Earth, if introduced through the transfer and insecure containment of contaminated samples. —Leonard David, Space.com, 3 June 2026

Produce grown using contaminated water may also pose exposure risks. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2026

The lawsuit accuses the companies of failing to properly inspect, test, and maintain quality control systems that would have prevented contaminated products from reaching consumers. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 June 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