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adulterant

[uh-duhl-ter-uh nt]
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noun
  1. a substance that adulterates.
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adjective
  1. adulterating.
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Origin of adulterant

1745–55; < Latin adulterant- (stem of adulterāns, present participle of adulterāre), equivalent to ad- ad- + -ulter (see adulterate) + -ant- -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

defilementcontaminationadulterationpollutantimpuritycontaminator

Examples from the Web for adulterant

Historical Examples

  • In moderate amounts it is not generally considered an adulterant.

    Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value

    Harry Snyder

  • In this bulletin they do not classify saltpeter as an adulterant.

  • It was then in demand, it is said, as an adulterant of quinine.

  • It is often added to, as an adulterant, or substituted for the true Almond oil.

  • The roots of this, after being ground and roasted, are used either as a substitute or an adulterant of coffee.

British Dictionary definitions for adulterant

adulterant

noun
  1. a substance or ingredient that adulterates
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adjective
  1. adulterating
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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
adulterant in Medicine

adulterant

(ə-dŭl′tər-ənt)
n.
  1. An additive causing an undesirable effect; impurity.
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Related formsa•dul′ter•ant adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.