fomite

noun

fo·mite | \ ˈfō-ˌmīt

plural fomites\ ˈfō-ˌmīts

; ˈfä-mə-ˌtēz , ˈfō-

Definition of fomite

: an object (such as a dish or a doorknob) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission

Did You Know?

Disinfectant on your hands keeps us healthier and fomites no longer foment as much disease. Australian newspaper contributor Peter Goers was likely going for alliteration when he paired up "fomite" and "foment," a verb meaning "to promote the growth or development of"-but, whether he realized it or not, the words "fomite" and "foment" are also related. "Fomite" is a back-formation of "fomites," the Latin plural of "fomes," itself a word for tinder. (Much like tinder is a catalyst of fire, a fomite can kindle disease.) "Fomes" is akin to the Latin verb fovēre ("to heat"), an ancestor of "foment."

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The first known use of fomite was in 1803

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fomite

noun

fo·mite | \ ˈfō-ˌmīt

plural fomites\ -ˌmīts; ˈfäm-ə-ˌtēz

, ˈfōm-

Medical Definition of fomite

: an object (as a dish, toy, book, doorknob, or clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission the much maligned toilet seat is a remarkably ineffective fomite— M. F. Rein what are the most common fomites for rotavirus in day-care settings — Pediatric Report's Child Health Newsletter