contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: contaminant

Synonyms

• adulterant
• contaminant
• defilement
• impurity
• pollutant

Examples of contamination in a Sentence

swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized

Recent Examples on the Web

Bandages on the lower end of fluorine contamination included BAND-AID Water Block Tough Strips, at 13 PPM on the flaps and nothing detected on the pad; and CVS Gentle Fabric Hypoallergenic Bandages, with 10 PPM on the pad and fluorine-free flaps. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

Lafayette County is in south-central Wisconsin, one of the state's hotspots for nitrate contamination. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Depending on what additional contamination is found, the amount paid out will range from $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion. —Jim Salter, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

The tongue scraper is ergonomically designed for kids and is also disposable to avoid contamination of bacteria as a result of improper cleaning between uses. —Daley Quinn, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2024

Fuel contamination is often unintentional, but there have been cases of unscrupulous fuel providers diluting their product with cheaper substances to increase supply and maximize profits. —Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Fracking can cause earthquakes and has raised concerns about groundwater contamination. —Maysoon Khan, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024

The toxic chemical is also known as the source of the contamination problem in Hinkley, Calif. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024

Most of the contamination came from water sources near urban areas and in areas that generated PFAS, like manufacturing that uses the chemicals in its products or sites where waste was collected. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contaminacioun, borrowed from Latin contāminātiōn-, contāminātiō "defilement, pollution," from contāmināre "to defile, pollute" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contaminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contamination

• cross contamination
• self-contamination

Medical Definition

contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: something that contaminates