disinfection

noun

dis·​in·​fec·​tion ˌdis-in-ˈfek-shən 

plural disinfections

: the act of disinfecting something

especially : the process of using a disinfectant to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi)

Both viruses are susceptible to disinfection by a weak solution of chlorine bleach.

—Margaret Reister

… a virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreads beyond hospital walls, some communities are taking extreme measures such as closing schools for disinfection.

—Laura Landro

Examples of disinfection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gross said halting the disinfection process was in direct conflict with instructions from the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and LivaNova. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026

Oceania implemented heightened disinfection and cleaning measures and isolated sick guests and employees, among other steps, according to the health agency. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

So far, the city has completed several major components of the Springbrook improvement project, including adding in an ultraviolet disinfection system that replaced the facility’s old chlorine disinfection system and adding new pumps at the influent pump station. —Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

The new draft list includes four contaminant groups — microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS and disinfection byproducts — as well as 75 chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water, the EPA said. —ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disinfection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection
• introspection