HAZMAT

American

[haz-mat] / ˈhæzˌmæt /

Or hazmat

noun

a material or substance that poses a danger to life, property, or the environment if improperly stored, shipped, or handled.

regulations for transporting radioactive materials and other HAZMAT.

hazmat British

/ ˈhæzˌmæt /

noun

1. substances that pose a danɡer to public health
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a hazmat suit

"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 HAZMAT

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; haz(ardous) + mat(erial)

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.

According to one account of the scene, “There were signs in both the drivers and passengers windows that said ‘CALL HAZMAT.’”

From Newsweek

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