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disinfectant

American  
[dis-in-fek-tuhnt] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈfɛk tənt /

noun

  1. any chemical agent used chiefly on inanimate objects to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful organisms.

adjective

  1. serving as a disinfectant.

disinfectant British  
/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛktənt /

noun

  1. an agent that destroys or inhibits the activity of microorganisms that cause disease

"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

Etymology

Origin of disinfectant

1830–40; < French désinfectant, noun use of present participle of désinfecter, Middle French. See disinfect, -ant

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.

At 7:00 am, relatives brought packages: deodorant, toothpaste, soap and shampoo in labeled plastic bags, plus disinfectant and bleach -- provisions essential for maintaining hygiene in the latrines of tiny cells.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

The room was chilly because of the conservation regime and smelled of disinfectant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

Extra municipal workers armed with disinfectant sprays have been deployed to carry out an urban "spring clean" in public areas across the city, while additional rubbish collections are being arranged.

From BBC • May 28, 2025

Sunlight, too, is a great and timeless disinfectant: airy, open spaces don’t just allow air movement that reduces transmission risk — they actually let sunlight in where it can kill bacteria in the air.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2025

"Go back upstairs and get Dr. Sokel and tell him to bring some tweezers, disinfectant, and suture material. Move it!"

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.