decontaminate

verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates

transitive verb

: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)
decontamination noun
decontaminator noun

Examples of decontaminate in a Sentence

Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.
Recent Examples on the Web On a hot summer day in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, dozens of men removed pipes, asbestos and hazardous waste while working to decontaminate a nuclear facility and prepare it for demolition. Cathy Bussewitz, The Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2024 The investigation comes a week after Beijing News reported that companies where using tankers to transport fuel and cooking oil without properly decontaminating the tankers between trips in order to save money. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 July 2024 The patients consisted of local nursing school students who were acting out their symptoms, including one screaming for their daughter, and several dummies, a few inflated that workers had to decontaminate. Nhat V. Meyer, The Mercury News, 16 May 2024 The state also requires any boat be decontaminated when moving between waters to try and prevent spreading invasive species. Both Michigan and Wisconsin killed bills that aimed to pass broad wake surfing regulations. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 20 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for decontaminate 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decontaminate was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near decontaminate

Cite this Entry

“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decontaminate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

decontaminate

verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates
decontamination noun

Medical Definition

decontaminate

transitive verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating
: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)
decontamination noun

More from Merriam-Webster on decontaminate

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