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

Though enzymatic processes tolerate more contamination than many chemical ones, industrial plants will likely still require pretreatment (washing, grinding, delabeling) to avoid enzyme fouling. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Heavy metal contamination can come from natural sources because lead is found in the earth’s crust. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, even drinking water can be susceptible to contamination due to lead leaching into water supplies through outdated plumbing systems. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025

Old non-stick pans were made with perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which was phased out due to potential health risks and environmental contamination. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 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