Definition of tainted
: altered from a pure state or condition: such as
a
: contaminated by or as if by dirt, impurities, or harmful organisms
tainted food Nearby residents typically want every shovelful of tainted soil dug up and shipped far, far away.— Gregg Easterbrook … federal health authorities identified an organic produce company … as a possible source of some of the tainted spinach.— Julia Preston et al. Viruses are often passed along to other computers via tainted files …— J. D. Biersdorfer
b
: corrupted morally or ethically
a tainted victory
c
: damaged or spoiled by alteration from a correct or original state or form
tainted evidence tainted testimony
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for tainted
The first known use of tainted was in 1577
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