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

In response to the outbreak, the company has increased its cleaning and disinfection procedures, per the CDC. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

The cruise line implemented heightened cleaning and disinfection onboard and isolated sick passengers and crew, according to the CDC. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025

Even after administrators reinstalled the operating system, swapped out hard drives, or took other common disinfection steps, ILObleed would remain intact and reactivate the disk-wiping attack. —Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

The plant is undergoing a massive underground construction project that will add ultraviolet disinfection and a chlorine contact basin, to the 90 year old facility. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025

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