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

Use separate cutting boards and containers to avoid cross-contamination between raw meats and fruits and vegetables. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025

Food stored where exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

Stella is one of multiple Wisconsin communities whose drinking water has been compromised with PFAS contamination. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025

These ready-to-eat products had Listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can cause listeriosis and listeriosis poisoning. —Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 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