contaminate

[ verb kuhn-tam-uh-neyt; noun adjective kuhn-tam-uh-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·tam·i·nat·ed, con·tam·i·nat·ing.

1. to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.:

   to contaminate a lake with sewage.

   Synonyms: corrupt, poison, infect, taint, pollute, defile

2. to render harmful or unusable by adding radioactive material to:

   to contaminate a laboratory.

noun

1. something that contaminates or carries contamination; contaminant.

adjective

1. Obsolete. contaminated.

contaminate

verb

1. to make impure, esp by touching or mixing; pollute
2. to make radioactive by the addition of radioactive material

adjective

1. archaic.
   contaminated

Derived Forms

• conˈtaminant, noun
• conˈtamiˌnator, noun
• conˈtaminable, adjective
• conˈtaminative, adjective

Other Words From

• con·tami·na·ble adjective
• con·tami·native adjective
• con·tami·nator noun
• con·tami·nous adjective
• noncon·tami·na·ble adjective
• noncon·tami·native adjective
• recon·tami·nate verb (used with object) recontaminated recontaminating
• self-con·tami·nating adjective
• uncon·tami·na·ble adjective
• uncon·tami·nated adjective
• uncon·tami·native adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contaminate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English contaminaten < Latin contāminātus, past participle of contāmināre to defile, spoil, equivalent to con- con- + -tāminare, verbal derivative of *tāmen something touched < *tag-s-men, equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -s-men resultative noun suffix; examen

Word History and Origins

Origin of contaminate¹

C15: from Latin contamināre to defile; related to Latin contingere to touch

Example Sentences

Some of these species are endangered, and their infection would likely occur either through direct contact with humans at zoos or aquariums or via untreated wastewater that is contaminated with the coronavirus from human sewage.

From Fortune

Sure that the dish had become contaminated, Xue and colleagues tried the experiment again … and again … and again.

From Nautilus

The gel also might limit bees’ ability to fly or even contaminate bees’ eggs.

From Science News For Students

However, veterinary specialists say there are techniques that can help people identify contaminated food before they buy it.

From Quartz

At the beginning of the outbreak, public health officials thought that the virus was primarily transmitted by people touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching their face.

From Science News

The hope, according to Rucker, is that Beck threatens to contaminate Fox News' overall brand.

From The Daily Beast

"They were afraid they would contaminate the other embryos," said Monica.

From The Daily Beast

In practice they do not transfer to knife edges or cross-contaminate other foods because the board will not let go of them.

From The Daily Beast

To purify liquids by the dissipation of the volatile matters which may contaminate them.

From Project Gutenberg

How could I know a wretched exile had returned to contaminate the soil with foreign vulgarity?

From Project Gutenberg

One spotted peach will contaminate an entire basket, one drop of ink cloud a full glass of clear water.

From Project Gutenberg

Did you think for a moment that I would leave this angel from heaven here, for you to contaminate with your filthy breath!

From Project Gutenberg

Even his engagements in the service of excise did not, at first, threaten either to contaminate the poet or to ruin the farmer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• corrupt
• harm
• infect
• injure
• poison
• pollute
• stain
• taint
• tarnish