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

A new school could be built on land previously found to have contained contaminated soil.

Read more on BBC

The Japanese auto maker said it would recall more than 126,000 U.S. vehicles, citing concerns that debris from the manufacturing process could contaminate the engine and cause it to stall.

Read more on Barron's

It can also enter drinking water when spills or improper disposal contaminate soil and groundwater.

Read more on Science Daily

Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that ByHeart’s infant formula might be contaminated with spores that cause botulism, the FDA said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One worker later described taking off his wedding ring before his shift because he feared it would be contaminated with radiation and have to be left behind.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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