disinfectant
Americannoun
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:
I believe a little sunlight would be a great disinfectant.
From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser RKT -1.31%decrease; red down pointing triangle booked higher revenue last year, with the Lysol disinfectant maker’s sales boosted by progress in emerging markets as it continues efforts to engineer a turnaround.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 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
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s time to shine a light on puppy mills,” Newsom said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025
She then washed Tendai’s monkey bite with boiled water and applied disinfectant.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
For years, as Venezuela fell into economic depression, hospitals operated without basic medication, reliable power and even disinfectants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
One major consequence is that many harmful microbes are becoming resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants, creating serious challenges for medicine and public health.
From Science Daily ● May 8, 2026
Over many decades, some bacteria have gradually become resistant to widely used antibiotics and disinfectants, creating serious challenges for medicine and public health.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 16, 2025
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.
