contaminate

[kuhn-tam-uh-neyt, kuhn-tam-uh-nit, -neyt]

verb (used with object)

contaminated, contaminating 

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

Other Word Forms

• contaminable adjective
• contaminative adjective
• contaminator noun
• contaminous adjective
• noncontaminable adjective
• noncontaminative adjective
• recontaminate verb (used with object)
• self-contaminating adjective
• uncontaminable adjective
• uncontaminated adjective
• uncontaminative adjective
• contaminant noun

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

Today, over 50 years later, only 10% of land contaminated by these and other munitions has been cleared.

From Salon

Another reason health officials are concerned is because the bacteria can spread to others and survive on contaminated surfaces.

From Los Angeles Times

They can also eat their way through farm produce and contaminate food supplies.

From BBC

Still others got it by eating infected wild birds, rats or mice, or from contact with dairy workers’ contaminated clothes or boots.

From Los Angeles Times

The possible contaminated products sold between June 12 and Sept. 17 include:

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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