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
As The Guardian reported back in 2021, the majority of homes in New York's Suffolk County rely on individual septic systems, and the town of Southampton has never built a centralized sewage network.
—
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 May 2026
NextEra sought permission to have an eight-foot fence instead of the four-foot fence normally allowed, permission to store materials outside and well and septic instead of extending Chesterton sewer and water lines.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Because of this, a patient with pneumonia is often already technically septic by definition.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Households relying on wells, particularly in agricultural regions or areas with septic systems, should be especially proactive about regular testing.
—Ryan Brennan
may 27, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for septic
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Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 May 2026
NextEra sought permission to have an eight-foot fence instead of the four-foot fence normally allowed, permission to store materials outside and well and septic instead of extending Chesterton sewer and water lines.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Because of this, a patient with pneumonia is often already technically septic by definition.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Households relying on wells, particularly in agricultural regions or areas with septic systems, should be especially proactive about regular testing.
—Ryan Brennan
may 27, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for septic
Cite this Entry
“Septic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/septic. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
septic
adjective
sep·tic
ˈsep-tik 
1
2
: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis
septic complications
septic arthritis
septic patients
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