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Synonyms

disinfectant

American  
[dis-in-fek-tuhnt] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈfɛk tənt /

noun

  1. any chemical agent used chiefly on inanimate objects to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful organisms.

adjective

  1. serving as a disinfectant.

disinfectant British  
/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛktənt /

noun

  1. an agent that destroys or inhibits the activity of microorganisms that cause disease

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of disinfectant

1830–40; < French désinfectant, noun use of present participle of désinfecter, Middle French. See disinfect, -ant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Reckitt Benckiser RKT -1.31%decrease; red down pointing triangle booked higher revenue last year, with the Lysol disinfectant maker’s sales boosted by progress in emerging markets as it continues efforts to engineer a turnaround.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

At 7:00 am, relatives brought packages: deodorant, toothpaste, soap and shampoo in labeled plastic bags, plus disinfectant and bleach -- provisions essential for maintaining hygiene in the latrines of tiny cells.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

Chlorine dioxide is a chemical compound that has a range of applications, including as a disinfectant and deodorizer.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025

"We've got biosecurity mats down with disinfectant all over them and are limiting who can go in the shed - usually it's just me," Ms Kennedy said.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

The room smells like disinfectant and bleach and a hint of his cologne.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.