definitions

vitiate

[ vish-ee-eyt ]
/ ˈvɪʃ iˌeɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vitiate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), vi·ti·at·ed, vi·ti·at·ing.

to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.
to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.
to debase; corrupt; pervert.
to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate: to vitiate a claim.

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RELATED WORDS

negate, quash, annihilate, sully, defile, pervert, debase, invalidate, deny, annul, revoke, undo, abolish, nullify, abate, abrogate, recant, undermine, delete, harm

Nearby words

vitellogenic, vitellointestinal cyst, vitellus, viti levu, vitiable, vitiate, vitiation, viticetum, viticulture, vitiliginous, vitiligo

Origin of vitiate

1525–35; < Latin vitiātus, past participle of vitiāre to spoil, derivative of vitium blemish, vice1 + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

Can be confused

ameliorate obviate vitiate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vitiate

British Dictionary definitions for vitiate

vitiate

/ (ˈvɪʃɪˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to make faulty or imperfect
to debase, pervert, or corrupt
to destroy the force or legal effect of (a deed, etc)to vitiate a contract

Derived Forms

vitiable, adjectivevitiation, nounvitiator, noun

Word Origin for vitiate

C16: from Latin vitiāre to injure, from vitium a fault
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012