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, 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

Synonyms

• adulterate
• adulterated
• alloyed
• dilute
• diluted
• impure
• polluted
• tainted
• thinned
• weakened

Examples of contaminated in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s spread when chickens come into contact with infected birds or through contaminated water, feed and equipment. —Pete & Gerry's Contributor, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

For decades there has been concern that CWD could move into human populations through the ingestion of contaminated meat. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025

Recall alert: Ground coffee recalled over mislabeling error What states were the contaminated soup and bowl products sold? —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

Avoid raw shellfish, which may have come from contaminated water, and raw or undercooked meat. —Perri Klass, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

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