contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce contamination (audio)
1
: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated
2

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 implications of contamination by air are not yet known and need further study, according to the SDSU report, leaving some members of the community grappling for answers. Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024 Because the military is voluntarily exercising its cleanup authority under the Superfund Act, its lawyers said in the motion, it should not be held liable for PFAS contamination. Zoya Teirstein / Grist, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 The way the spices were stored or the intentional addition of lead for weight or color may also lead to contamination. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 The paper also notes that lab contamination and patient behaviors that are unknown to the researchers could also influence their results. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The National Priorities List includes sites with the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The Food and Drug Administration, citing Ecuadorean investigators, said a spice grinder was likely responsible for the contamination and said the quick recall of three million applesauce pouches protected the food supply. Will Fitzgibbon, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The military also spread radioactive sand across a simulated American town to track the movement of contamination and conducted radiation experiments on sheep and cows to appalling effect. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contamination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of contamination was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near contamination

Cite this Entry

“Contamination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contamination. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

contamination

noun
con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce contamination (audio)
1
: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated
2
: something that contaminates
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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