septic

adjective

sep·​tic ˈsep-tik How to pronounce septic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or causing putrefaction
2
: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis
septic patients
3
: used for sewage treatment and disposal
a septic system
also : of or relating to a septic system
septic effluents

Examples of septic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026 Troubles with water mounted over the years, so much so that their driveway once was washed out and their septic system destroyed, after an uphill neighbor cut down dozens of mature trees. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026 This property has a private well and septic, plus a backup water storage-and-treatment setup designed for reliability, and keeping the landscaping alive in a dry year. David Caraccio april 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026 Invasive infection included infants and toddlers developing pneumonia, meningitis, septic arthritis, blood infection and swelling in the throat, causing permanent disabilities and death in about 5% of cases, or around 1,000 children annually. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for septic

Word History

Etymology

Latin septicus, from Greek sēptikos, from sēpein to putrefy

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of septic was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Septic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/septic. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Medical Definition

septic

adjective
sep·​tic ˈsep-tik How to pronounce septic (audio)
1
2
: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis
septic complications
septic arthritis
septic patients

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