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disinfection

American  
[dis-in-fek-shuhn] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of cleansing or purifying a room, wound, item of clothing, etc., of germs that cause disease.

    After disinfection is complete, the treated water is reintroduced back into the river to support aquatic life, recreation, and downstream drinking water supplies.

Etymology

Origin of disinfection

disinfect + -ion

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.

Bacteria and viruses can survive inside amoebae, shielded from disinfection processes that would normally eliminate them.

From Science Daily • Jan. 25, 2026

He added the treatment works were "performing much better" over the last 24 hours, and the boiled water notice was implemented as a "precautionary step" while disinfection of water takes place.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

While authorities said the health of the remaining 78 mammals in the zoo was "normal", the mammals section has been closed since 14 October for disinfection and cleaning.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2024

THM4 was the most abundant, and additionally, various unregulated disinfection byproducts were produced.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2024

Isolation of patients is not requisite, nor any process of disinfection other than that which is incidental to a fresh supply of pure air.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

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.