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chlorinate

American  
[klawr-uh-neyt, klohr-] / ˈklɔr əˌneɪt, ˈkloʊr- /

verb (used with object)

chlorinated, chlorinating
  1. Chemistry.

    1. to combine or treat with chlorine.

    2. to introduce chlorine atoms into an organic compound by an addition or substitution reaction.

  2. to disinfect (water) by means of chlorine.

  3. Metallurgy. to treat (a gold ore) with chlorine gas in order that the gold may be removed as a soluble chloride.


chlorinate British  
/ ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt /

verb

  1. to combine or treat (a substance) with chlorine

  2. to disinfect (water) with chlorine

"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

chlorinate Scientific  
/ klôrə-nāt′ /
  1. To add chlorine or one of its compounds to a substance. Water and sewage are chlorinated to be disinfected, and paper pulp is chlorinated to be bleached.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of chlorinate

First recorded in 1855–60; chlorine + -ate 1

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.

See Examples For:

Namphy and his government colleagues raced to chlorinate water arriving in the camps.

From The Guardian Mar. 16, 2020

We chlorinate our water, so what’s the problem with using chlorine washes to make chicken safe?

From The Guardian Sep. 10, 2019

Residents now chlorinate it, boil it or filter it through rugs.

From New York Times Dec. 13, 2014

That move comes after actors in chicken outfits in one French protest troupe — dubbed the "chicken brigade" — tried to "chlorinate themselves" in a public pool.

From Chicago Tribune Dec. 5, 2014

Hydrogen peroxide, also a bleaching compound, is less rapid in its action than chlorinate of soda; the same may be said of combinations of oxalic and sulphurous acids.

From Forty Centuries of Ink or, a chronological narrative concerning ink and its backgrounds, introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the evanescent character of most inks of to-day and an epitome of chemico-legal ink. by Carvalho, David Nunes

And note that people with diarrhea should not go to water parks or swimming pools: The parasite that causes cyclosporiasis can survive in chlorinated water, according to Egan.

From MarketWatch Jul. 14, 2026

According to the British agricultural press, more than 150,000 Brits have since signed petitions urging their supermarket chains to “publicly rule out chlorinated chicken.”

From Slate Feb. 13, 2026

Switzerland's powerful farming lobby has waded into the debate, with farmers' union Uniterre rejecting any imports of chlorinated chicken and concessions likely to harm the country's proud milk and dairy industry.

From Barron's Nov. 19, 2025

However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been clear that food standards - for example, allowing imports of chlorinated chicken or hormone-treated beef - will not feature in this deal for domestic political reasons.

From BBC May 8, 2025

As we have seen in the preceding chapter, many of the chlorinated hydrocarbons, the phenols, and some herbicides interfere with oxidation and energy production within the cell.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Occidental’s petrochemical division, OxyChem, manufactures and sells chemicals for use in applications including chlorinating water, recycling batteries and producing paper.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 30, 2025

Park officials are collecting more sampling to figure out the source of the bacteria and are also chlorinating water in the area again.

From Seattle Times Aug. 25, 2023

Some ideas include chlorinating or flushing out the material, Pestrella said.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 11, 2021

He says with the rainy season under way, the government has in recent weeks taken steps to prevent a cholera outbreak by chlorinating wells in Monrovia.

From BBC Sep. 23, 2014

The little chlorinating plant is situated on the line of this tunnel so that the solution is readily introduced into the water before it reaches the pool called a settling basin.

From How To Write Special Feature Articles A Handbook for Reporters, Correspondents and Free-Lance Writers Who Desire to Contribute to Popular Magazines and Magazine Sections of Newspapers by Bleyer, Willard Grosvenor

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