often attributive
: a material (such as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions
Did you know?
The origin of "hazmat" is clear enough - it was formed by combining the first three letters of each of two words: "hazardous" and "material." The word hazmat is fairly young, first appearing in print in 1980. Although it is a noun, "hazmat" tends to be used attributively, meaning that it often appears in sentences before another noun as if it were performing the duties of an adjective (as in "hazmat team" and "hazmat worker").
Examples of hazmat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some had been in close contact with intoxicated individuals, but hazmat teams did not locate any hazardous substance.
—
Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
What To Know The flooding displaced about 1,000 propane tanks from a distribution facility into the surrounding area, creating an immediate hazmat concern.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The flooding caused about 1,000 propane tanks to wash away from a distribution facility, creating a serious hazmat concern in the area of downtown Globe, Arizona, according to Gila County Emergency Management.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2025
Hobbs' office noted that even before the emergency declaration, the state had deployed resources including hazmat teams, search and rescue crews, Arizona Department of Transportation personnel, and state police.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hazmat
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Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
What To Know The flooding displaced about 1,000 propane tanks from a distribution facility into the surrounding area, creating an immediate hazmat concern.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The flooding caused about 1,000 propane tanks to wash away from a distribution facility, creating a serious hazmat concern in the area of downtown Globe, Arizona, according to Gila County Emergency Management.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2025
Hobbs' office noted that even before the emergency declaration, the state had deployed resources including hazmat teams, search and rescue crews, Arizona Department of Transportation personnel, and state police.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hazmat
Cite this Entry
“Hazmat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hazmat. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hazmat
noun
haz·mat
ˈhaz-ˌmat
often attributive
: a material (as radioactive, flammable, explosive, or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without necessary precautions being taken
toxic waste hauled away by workers in hazmat suits—Tom Spousta
Tom Spoustahazmat storage
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