disinfect

American

[dis-in-fekt] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈfɛkt /

verb (used with object)

to cleanse (rooms, wounds, clothing, etc.) of infection; destroy disease germs in.

disinfect British

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛkt /

verb

(tr) to rid of microorganisms potentially harmful to man, esp by chemical means

"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

Usage

What does disinfect mean? Disinfect means to clean something of infection by killing or preventing the growth of disease-causing germs, as in You want to disinfect your countertop after having raw meat on it to kill harmful bacteria like E. coli.Disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses (often referred to as germs) can live on surfaces or enter into open wounds. When you disinfect something, you are either directly killing the germs or making it harder for the germs to spread or survive.The noun disinfection refers to the act of disinfecting, as in The contaminated clothing was marked for disinfection. A chemical that is used to disinfect something is referred to as a disinfectant. Bleach is commonly used as a disinfectant in households.Example: The janitor disinfected the table using a cleaning chemical designed to kill germs.

Other Word Forms

disinfection noun
disinfective adjective
disinfector noun
redisinfect verb (used with object)
undisinfected adjective

Etymology

Origin of disinfect

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French desinfecter, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + infecter “to die, taint, poison”; infect

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.

Greater transparency and clarity are urgently needed to disinfect the greenwashing fraud of many ESG initiatives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

At a nearby table, other students carefully dismantle warped albums or disinfect and clean faded photographs, which were then hung to dry.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

The relevant text simply says that nothing must be done to disinfect or alter the mineral make-up of the water.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2025

Yoga instructor Judd likes to call attention to the area’s cowboy roots and remind participants that the site they’re on was once used to inoculate, disinfect and brand cattle.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2025

So first I went to the first floor girls’ room, but then a janitor came in to disinfect, and I had to leave.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023