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

Example Sentences

Chemicals were added to disinfect the water.

The wound needs to be disinfected.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once your tools are sharp, disinfect them by wiping them with 70% alcohol or dipping them in a 10% bleach solution. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2023

This will disinfect and remove any residual smells. —Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 14 Mar. 2023

Buy It: Method All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate Kit ($18, Method) Best Disinfectant This reliable spray can disinfect pretty much any germ-collecting surface. —Katy Kiick Condon, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2023

The sun can, for instance, naturally disinfect surfaces while gloomier days help viral particles survive on surfaces contaminated by infected bird poop, Lorenzoni said. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2023

The acid in a vinegar cleaning solution can remove lime scale when regularly cleaning your humidifier but in order to disinfect it a hydrogen peroxide solution soak is recommended. —Dallas News, 12 Jan. 2023

Consider materials that cushion your joints from impact (like how running on grass is better for your knees than running on asphalt) and are easy to disinfect or wipe down. —Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 22 Dec. 2022

Scrub the pots with a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water to disinfect them if necessary because of a disease problem. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Nov. 2022

The final step is to disinfect the exterior parts of the toilet. —Susannah Herrada, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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)

disinfection

-ˈfek-shən 

noun