septic

[ sep-tik ]

adjective

1. Pathology.
   1. relating to, caused by, or affected by sepsis or infection:

      Adequate and prompt antibiotic therapy is essential for a septic patient.

      She was admitted to the hospital with septic shock.

   2. causing sepsis or infection:

      If care is not taken, there is the potential for introducing septic agents through injection.

2. relating to or designed for the treatment of sewage by anaerobic bacteria:

   The rural property, just shy of three acres, is on a private well and septic system.

   Contamination of the bay may be a result of insufficient septic drainfields or faulty sewer lines or pumping stations.

noun

, Informal.

1. a septic tank or septic system:

   They were able to get to my house the next day, drain the septic, and fix the sump pump.

   Here’s what to do if your septic is leaking.

septic

/ sɛpˈtɪsɪtɪ; ˈsɛptɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by sepsis
2. of, relating to, or caused by putrefaction

noun

1. See septic tank
   informal.
   short for septic tank

Derived Forms

• septicity, noun
• ˈseptically, adverb

Other Words From

• sep·ti·cal·ly adverb
• sep·tic·i·ty [sep-, tis, -i-tee], noun
• non·sep·tic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of septic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin sēpticus, from Greek sēptikós, from sēpt(ós) “rotted” (from sḗpein “to make rotten”; sepsis ( def ) ) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of septic¹

C17: from Latin sēpticus, from Greek sēptikos, from sēptos decayed, from sēpein to make rotten

Example Sentences

Through the Wastewater Innovation and Environmental Justice lab, which is being launched this month, representatives from Lowndes County, Navajo Nation and other affected areas will be part of the design team for the high-tech septic tank.

From Washington Post

Even those with septic tanks find that they often fail in the dense, waterlogged soil.

From Washington Post

Flowers, who was named a MacArthur Foundation “genius” in October, is working on a new kind of septic system.

From Washington Post

There are now options for radon and lead paint inspections, and inspection of wells and septic systems that are more commonly found in outlying areas.

From Washington Blade

These toilets dump into overflowing septic tanks or into local rivers and lakes.

From Science News For Students

Reports that the bodies of the children had been ‘dumped’ in a septic tank have, however, proved to be wide of the mark.

From The Daily Beast

I'm talking about what's called biogas, produced by treating the septic tanks attached to toilets.

From The Daily Beast

When Pope John Paul II died of septic shock and heart failure, in April 2005, he was 84.

From The Daily Beast

That terrible attack of septic pneumonia in New York, as we now know, left the heart injured and the lungs weakened.

From Project Gutenberg

Think, Gentlemen, of a child in the last stages of septic peritonitis, practically dead.

From Project Gutenberg

Of all the anti-septic agents used for the purposes mentioned boracic acid is the favorite, and salicylic acid next in choice.

From Project Gutenberg

Various other anti-septic agents are used and combined in different ways, according to the results of experiments.

From Project Gutenberg

It lays the orbit open to the possibility of septic infection.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dangerous
• deadly
• destructive
• fatal
• lethal
• noxious
• pernicious
• toxic
• venomous
• vicious
• virulent