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

Thirty crew members will stay aboard the ship and sail to the Netherlands for the disinfection process, along with the body of one of the passengers who died. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 9 May 2026

Princess Cruises has increased cleaning and disinfection, collected stool samples for testing and consulted with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, according to the CDC. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026

Domínguez added that disinfection should be carried out in the Netherlands. —Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 8 May 2026

No other passengers on board have symptoms, but everyone has been asked to remain in their cabins while disinfection and other public health measures are carried out. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 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