contaminated

adjective

con·​tam·​i·​nat·​ed kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd How to pronounce contaminated (audio)
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, even in developed countries, 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

Examples of contaminated in a Sentence

the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are systems in place to help address the issue of contaminated medications. Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025 Consumers who have received the affected HelloFresh meals are urged not to consume the contaminated product and to throw them away immediately. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 In the following years, MSF provided chelation to thousands of children and the government and community organizations undertook the complex job of environmental remediation, laying fresh soil over acres of contaminated land to prevent continued poisoning. Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025 What stores carried the possibly contaminated shrimp? Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contaminated

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of contaminate

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contaminated was in 1576

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Cite this Entry

“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contaminated. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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