decontaminate

American  

[dee-kuhn-tam-uh-neyt] / ˌdi kənˈtæm əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

decontaminated, decontaminating

1. to make (an object or area) safe for unprotected personnel by removing, neutralizing, or destroying any harmful substance, as radioactive material or poisonous gas.

2. to make free of contamination; purify.

   to decontaminate a sickroom.

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decontaminate British  

/ ˌdiːkənˈtæmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to render (an area, building, object, etc) harmless by the removal, distribution, or neutralization of poisons, radioactivity, etc

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Other Word Forms

• decontaminant noun
• decontamination noun
• decontaminative adjective
• decontaminator noun

Etymology

Origin of decontaminate

First recorded in 1935–40; de- + contaminate

Example Sentences

Workers have complained of chemical burns from the waste material generated by the tunneling process, and firefighters must decontaminate their equipment after conducting rescues from the project sites.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025

That’s sent water treatment operators scrambling to find ways to decontaminate water supplies without breaking the bank.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 20, 2024

"You don't want to know what's in there. It's full of human waste and other garbage. We decontaminate immediately after each dive."

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2024

This device, the researchers say, offers significant advantages in cost, simplicity, effectiveness and sustainability compared existing commercial options, giving users the ability to easily decontaminate water from nearby streams and rivers and make it drinkable.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024

For morale purposes, Central Authority let it be known that they were able to decontaminate it, but what actually happened was that the spores lost their effectiveness within a few years of their original seeding.

From Shock Absorber by Dongen, H. R. van

Related Words

• cleanse
• disinfect
• fumigate
• sanitize
• sterilize