contamination
noun
con·tam·i·na·tion
kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 
1
: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated
2
Examples of contamination in a Sentence
swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized
Recent Examples on the Web
Currently, only 37% of the more than 5 million tons of trash generated in the county each year is recycled — and even that is hampered by a 40% contamination rate.
—
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Limiting runoff from pesticides and fertilizers often used on lawns can reduce saltwater intrusion in aquifers and contamination in waterways, Davidson said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
John Rumpler, clean water director and senior attorney with Environment America, said aging sewer systems are to blame for much of the contamination.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The Great Lakes Legacy Act — which aims to address areas of concern in the basin where longtime industrial contamination has caused environmental degradation — has funded 34 remediation projects across the region since 2004, removing or capping almost 7 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contamination
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.
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Limiting runoff from pesticides and fertilizers often used on lawns can reduce saltwater intrusion in aquifers and contamination in waterways, Davidson said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
John Rumpler, clean water director and senior attorney with Environment America, said aging sewer systems are to blame for much of the contamination.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The Great Lakes Legacy Act — which aims to address areas of concern in the basin where longtime industrial contamination has caused environmental degradation — has funded 34 remediation projects across the region since 2004, removing or capping almost 7 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contamination
Cite this Entry
“Contamination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contamination. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share