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

These places are designed to minimize dust and microorganisms in order to avoid contamination, but several bacteria, called extremophiles, were found in NASA’s cleanrooms. —Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Jan. 2026

This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026

On January 8th, the Division took a sample from the Costco gas station at River Pointe in Sheridan that confirmed the contamination. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

The group — led mostly by women — assembled the first comprehensive evidence of widespread contamination within homes. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 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