decontaminate

verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt 

decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates

transitive verb

: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)

decontamination

ˌdē-kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

decontaminator

ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-tər 

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

The company would also deal with the problem of sealing the sample return capsule and making sure that it is decontaminated in accordance with NASA and international safety protocols against interplanetary contamination. —New Atlas, 6 July 2025

For months, the day laborers had decontaminated homes that survived the Los Angeles wildfires. —New York Times, 12 July 2025

People covered in jet fuel were also decontaminated before being treated. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 3 July 2025

Patterson warns that people should not touch bats and should be sure to decontaminate after visiting bat habitat to avoid spreading it. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decontaminate

• borosilicate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate
• isocyanate

Kids Definition

decontaminate

verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt 

: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates

decontamination

-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

decontaminate

transitive verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt 

decontaminated; decontaminating

: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)

decontamination

-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun