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

To be septic means the body is responding strongly to an infection, so strongly that the body can send itself into shock or shut down vital organs. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026

The grant money is not guaranteed, but requesting the federal funds is one step in the process to help reduce the village’s dependency on private septic systems or intergovernmental agreements with other companies and communities, village officials said. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

There was no running water or septic system on the property, and the group appeared to be burning trash in a pit. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026

One of those threats comes from aging septic systems. —Iuliia Istratiy, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 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