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

• contaminant
• 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

Lithium batteries, other toxic material elevate risk Rahn pointed to lithium batteries in electric vehicles as a new source of contamination, which historically wasn’t a major concern. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Ohio’s Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op is recalling multiple lots of cheese due to a potential contamination with listeria, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025

The company is collaborating with the agency on its investigation and investigators are trying to determine the contamination source, the notice said. —Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Typically, the tool is meant to incentivize construction in areas of disrepair or contamination that otherwise would be too costly for anyone to develop. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 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