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 of contamination

• 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

According to the team, even with control measures in place, sweet cherry growers in states Michigan, Washington, California, and Oregon can lose anywhere from five to 30 percent of their crops every year to contamination. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025

Since 2003, the site has sat vacant and soil testing has shown contamination from petroleum compounds from two former underground storage tanks. —Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025

This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination. —Sacbee.com, 27 Nov. 2025

In the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. —Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 27 Nov. 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