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

• adulterant
• contaminant
• defilement
• impurity
• 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

The contamination was discovered through routine sampling procedures, and the recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

Love and county public health officials are now recommending that property owners in affected areas consider potential soil contamination ahead of rebuilding efforts. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

Canned beans were recalled over an undeclared allergen, and tomatoes were impacted due to possible Salmonella contamination. Do not eat these products, and toss or return them instead. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 9 May 2025

Targeting contaminants The inspiration for this work was the fact that a lot of industrial contamination contains a mixture of toxic organic molecules, but is found in brackish or salty water. —ArsTechnica, 7 May 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