septic

adjective

sep·​tic ˈsep-tik 

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

Volunteers were handing out face masks in case anyone went inside the houses to mitigate the smell of septic overflow, agricultural runoff, and mildew. —Chantell Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026

Her old septic system was not designed to handle the soggy soil in her leach field, rendering the system unusable for six months out of the year. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026

There's no septic system on the property for the kennel. —Austin Turner, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

Another pressing issue is the number of failing septic systems in the Porter Beach neighborhood. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin septicus, from Greek sēptikos, from sēpein to putrefy

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing septic

• go septic
• septic shock
• septic sore throat
• septic tank

Rhymes for septic

• peptic
• sceptic
• skeptic
• antiepileptic
• antiseptic
• epileptic
• neuroleptic
• aseptic
• dyspeptic
• organoleptic

Medical Definition

septic

adjective

sep·​tic ˈsep-tik 

1

: putrefactive

2

: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis

septic complications

septic arthritis

septic patients