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 of contamination

• 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

Costco has voluntarily recalled two salad products over possible contamination with plastic material, affecting consumers in 34 states, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now issued a Class II risk warning. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

Meanwhile, over at MIT, researchers developed Velcro-like food sensors (also made with microneedles) designed to attach to plastic food packaging and detect signs of contamination. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025

The site has been associated with environmental contamination, with work done since on clean up, and the site has sat vacant for years. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025

Although asbestos contamination is the primary concern, and asbestos-free talc is a thing, the European Union isn’t taking any chances with it. —Marci Robin, Allure, 4 Dec. 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