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

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce released a comprehensive binational report Wednesday outlining a five-pillar strategy to address the Tijuana River contamination crisis, a problem that has plagued South San Diego County communities for decades. —Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

The ordinance includes additional removal language to include removing batteries and testing soils after equipment has been removed to ensure there is no contamination. —Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

That fragmentation means larger pieces of plastic break down into smaller and smaller particles over time, making the contamination even harder to track and address. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

Salmon does not need to be rinsed; in fact, rinsing the fish can lead to contamination. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 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