recontaminate

verb

re·​con·​tam·​i·​nate (ˌ)rē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce recontaminate (audio)
recontaminated; recontaminating; recontaminates

transitive verb

: to contaminate again
The way these products are processed and handled may not kill all the bacteria or may allow the products to become recontaminated.Better Homes and Gardens
The organization couldn't ensure its disposal would not recontaminate the water table, risking the infection of others.John Cary
recontamination noun
plural recontaminations
Keep the cooked shellfish separate from seawater and uncooked shellfish to prevent recontamination. Maribeth Crandell

Examples of recontaminate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This way, any dust and debris that falls won’t recontaminate any clean areas, doubling your effort. Brigitt Earley, Good Housekeeping, 22 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recontaminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recontaminate was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near recontaminate

Cite this Entry

“Recontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recontaminate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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