contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: contaminant

Synonyms

• adulterant
• contaminant
• defilement
• impurity
• pollutant

Examples of contamination in a Sentence

swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized

Recent Examples on the Web

Ritual is proudly Clean Label Certified and has been rigorously tested against heavy metal contamination. —Brianna Peters, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025

In the 1970s, the FDA began requiring egg producers to wash and sanitize eggs to minimize the risk of Salmonella contamination. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025

The top 2 feet of dirt at the Michigan Avenue site was scraped off and hauled away because of contamination from lead paint peelings from the houses that once stood there. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025

These risks can include contamination with foreign materials, undeclared allergens, or potential exposure to harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or Listeria. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contaminacioun, borrowed from Latin contāminātiōn-, contāminātiō "defilement, pollution," from contāmināre "to defile, pollute" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contaminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contamination

• cross contamination
• self-contamination

Rhymes for contamination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Medical Definition

contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: something that contaminates