septic

American  

[sep-tik] / ˈsɛp tɪk /

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.

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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 British  

/ sɛpˈtɪsɪtɪ, ˈsɛptɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by sepsis

2. of, relating to, or caused by putrefaction

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noun

1. informal short for septic tank

Other Word Forms

• nonseptic
  adjective
• septically
  adverb
• septicity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of septic

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

Compare meaning

How does septic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• septic vs. aseptic

Explanation

Septic is connected to dangerous waste products. If your house is not connected to your town or city's sewer, your waste from drains and toilets goes into a septic tank. Derived from a Greek word meaning "rotten," septic can indicate that something is infected. When a hospital patient goes into "septic shock," it means that their body, wracked by an infection, is starting to fail. People in septic shock are victims of a condition called sepsis.

Example Sentences

About half of the 682 lots with on-site sewage systems — most of which are septic tanks — experienced fire damage or total destruction, according to county records.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

I went into septic shock and spent over a month in a medically induced coma.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Residents have already described to the BBC how lorries could be seen delivering materials, including fencing and septic tanks, after sundown on Friday.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Residents and businesses still rely on septic tanks, and locals say larger businesses have been hesitant to relocate there because of the lack of sewer service.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

The toilet wasn’t hooked up to any sewer or septic system.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Related Words

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