disinfectant
Americannoun
-
disinfectants
plural
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of disinfectant
1830–40; < French désinfectant, noun use of present participle of désinfecter, Middle French. See disinfect, -ant
Explanation
If you need to clean a nasty mess, grab some disinfectant. It's a powerful cleanser that kills bacteria. Disinfectant is a chemical that can destroy dangerous microorganisms — using it is the next best thing to sterilization. If someone in your family has had the flu, it makes sense to use a disinfectant when you clean the bathroom, just in case there are lingering germs on the doorknobs and faucets. Disinfectants are similar to antibiotics and antiseptics, except they're used on objects and surfaces rather than on (or in) our bodies.
Vocabulary lists containing disinfectant
Earthquake Terror
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Free Period
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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.
See Examples For:
KAMPALA, Uganda—An Ebola response team ran into an unexpected obstacle when they arrived to spray a roadside market with disinfectant a couple of weeks ago: the admin for a local WhatsApp group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
She watched TikTok videos warning expectant mothers to bring their own toilet paper and disinfectant to the hospital and says several relatives had a terrible experience.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
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
Boiling, freezing, adding chlorine or other disinfectant or letting water stand will not make it safe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025
Sophia pointed to a disinfectant dispenser on the wall of the corridor, and Claire followed her example, rubbing her hands carefully with the clear medicinal liquid.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
If infected rodents are confirmed on board, public-health officials might require a thorough decontamination—a process that, according to the CDC, involves wetting all surfaces with disinfectants before cleaning to avoid sending virus particles airborne.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
Instead of relying on chemical disinfectants, the surface uses mechanical force to disable the virus.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026
"They can tolerate high temperatures, strong disinfectants like chlorine, and even live inside water distribution systems that people assume are safe."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 25, 2026
While most cleans rely on numerous solvents and disinfectants, for run-of-the-mill carpet stains Ben relies on the basics - using either washing powder or liquid and warm water.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2025
He went to the bathroom and scrubbed himself with disinfectants, scraping his hide with pumice stone.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
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.
