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

Officials said there was no airborne contamination. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026

The data also reveal how tightly this contamination is concentrated around Kantamanto, pinpointing the market as the epicenter. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 May 2026

Oxford said the prolonged contamination is affecting both businesses and longtime Atlanta traditions centered around the river. —Monique John, CBS News, 28 May 2026

In Newark, New Jersey students partnered with a local coalition to design and build a mobile water filtration system for communities hit hardest by the city’s ongoing lead contamination crisis. —Rajiv Vinnakota, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

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