contamination

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noun con·tam·i·na·tion \kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən\

Definition of contamination

1 : a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated
2 : contaminant

Examples of contamination in a Sentence

swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized

Recent Examples of contamination from the Web

China’s willingness is largely driven by domestic imperatives: growing popular dismay about air pollution, deteriorating water quality, and soil contamination from runaway industrialization.

— matthew pennington, The Seattle Times, "China likely to gain as US withdraws from Paris agreement", 2 June 2017
Smucker Foods of Canada announced a recall Wednesday of four flour brands sold across the United States on the possibility of E. coli contamination.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Flour possibly contaminated with E. coli recalled nationwide.", 31 May 2017
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is instituting new programs to better communicate with residents of the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site in East Chicago as cleanup of the lead and arsenic contamination continues.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "EPA promises better communication with East Chicago residents", 31 May 2017
The purpose of the program, which will continue through November, is to prevent contamination of the MDC's drinking water supplies as a result of, among other things, septic system failure, erosion, runoff, and other potential pollutants.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Valley Edition", 30 May 2017
First, if the food is wrapped, any bacterial contamination will be on the wrapper, not on your food.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "The guy who handed you a sandwich also handed you money. Ick? Or OK?", 30 May 2017
The requests seek emails on a variety of topics, including Indiana's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the HIV outbreak in Scott County and lead contamination in East Chicago.

— tony cook and kaitlin l. lange, USA TODAY, "Pence left dozens of records requests unfilled", 26 May 2017
Botulism contamination happens when botulinum bacteria multiply, creating a nerve toxin.

— sammy caiola, sacbee, "Nacho cheese botulism appears to be isolated to Sacramento area gas station", 25 May 2017
Although Velsicol exported its infamous contamination to nearly every refrigerator in Michigan, the company also did a number on the community that supplied its workforce.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Jesus Saves, and Probably in the Cayman Islands", 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contamination'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.