decontaminate
verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt 
decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates
: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)
Examples of decontaminate in a Sentence
Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Specialist teams came to retrieve the body and decontaminate the roadside, while his family members stood around and wept.
—
Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 15 June 2026
Officials have decontaminated the facility’s inmate housing as a precaution and medical staff are monitoring prisoners and staff, The Mercury News reported.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
All first responders and equipment involved in the operation had to be decontaminated, officials said.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
The bodies must be decontaminated before being taken to the corner’s office, local authorities said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
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Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 15 June 2026
Officials have decontaminated the facility’s inmate housing as a precaution and medical staff are monitoring prisoners and staff, The Mercury News reported.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
All first responders and equipment involved in the operation had to be decontaminated, officials said.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
The bodies must be decontaminated before being taken to the corner’s office, local authorities said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decontaminate
Cite this Entry
“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decontaminate. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decontaminate
verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt
: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates
Medical Definition
decontaminate
transitive verb
de·con·tam·i·nate
ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt
decontaminated; decontaminating
: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)
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