disinfect

verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-in-ˈfekt 

disinfected; disinfecting; disinfects

transitive verb

1

: to cleanse (a surface, a device, a supply of water, etc.) by destroying, inactivating, or significantly reducing the concentration of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (such as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)

… medical experts say some scopes can be difficult to disinfect through conventional cleaning because of their design, so bacteria are transmitted from patient to patient.

—Chad Terhune

Trihalomethanes are chemicals formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with organic matter, such as animal waste, treated sewage, leaves, or soil.

—Emily Main

Clean your humidifier often. Although some parts may be washable in the dishwasher, they still need to be descaled with vinegar and disinfected with bleach.

—Consumer Reports

2

: to relieve (something) of some undesirable quality likened to a disease or infection

But the big question is this: If the bill becomes law, will it truly disinfect our politics?

—Nancy Gibbs and Karen Tumulty

3

: to remove a software virus (see virus sense 3) from (a computer or device) often by means of a special program

The earliest viruses were relatively simple routines, and virus detectors could easily disinfect computers.

—Philips Chien

Examples of disinfect in a Sentence

Chemicals were added to disinfect the water.

The wound needs to be disinfected.

Recent Examples on the Web

We were issued metal water bottles for bringing ashore, and followed strict instructions on not bringing any food off the ship, and disinfecting our boots before and after stepping ashore to keep Antarctica pristine. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026

Two storage tanks holding a corrosive chemical used to disinfect Folsom’s drinking water have been leaking for months, prompting city officials to authorize nearly $918,000 in additional spending to replace the aging equipment. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Achou Taibo’s cousin Musubao, who had earlier lost one sister to Ebola, said her landlord forced her family out after health workers disinfected their home, claiming the operation had brought evil spirits into it. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Neighbors stayed away until Ebola responders came to take the sick to a clinic and disinfect their house afterward. — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French desinfecter, from des- dis- + infecter to infect

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disinfect

• architect
• circumspect
• deselect
• dialect
• disconnect
• disrespect
• incorrect
• indirect
• intellect
• interject
• intersect
• pluperfect

Kids Definition

disinfect

verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfekt 

: to cleanse of germs that might cause disease

disinfection

-ˈfek-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

disinfect

transitive verb

dis·​in·​fect ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfekt 

: to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents (as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) especially on hard surfaces and in water : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)

… formaldehyde is used to disinfect … dialyzers (artificial kidneys) that are reprocessed and reused only by the same patient.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

The circulating surgical technologist … transfers the patients to the operating table; positions the patient; washes, shaves, and disinfects the incision site; and otherwise prepares the patient.

—Barbara M. Swanson, Careers in Health Care