contaminate
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
adjective
verb
-
to make impure, esp by touching or mixing; pollute
-
to make radioactive by the addition of radioactive material
adjective
Other Word Forms
- contaminable adjective
- contaminant noun
- contaminative adjective
- contaminator noun
- contaminous adjective
- noncontaminable adjective
- noncontaminative adjective
- recontaminate verb (used with object)
- self-contaminating adjective
- uncontaminable adjective
- uncontaminated adjective
- uncontaminative adjective
Etymology
Origin of contaminate
1375–1425; late Middle English contaminaten < Latin contāminātus, past participle of contāmināre to defile, spoil, equivalent to con- con- + -tāminare, verbal derivative of *tāmen something touched < *tag-s-men, equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -s-men resultative noun suffix; examen
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.
The seemingly limitless proliferation of cases in which lawyers have been caught letting fictitious AI-generated legal citations contaminate their briefs continues to amaze.
From Los Angeles Times
Earlier this year, Danone recalled 14 batches of its baby formula and follow-on milk, from the Aptamil and Cow and Gate brands, over fears they were contaminated with toxins.
From BBC
This research is the first to clearly show how forests become contaminated with microplastics and to directly connect that contamination to particles transported through the air.
From Science Daily
The team also explored whether Salvinia auriculata, a floating plant often considered invasive, could help clean contaminated water.
From Science Daily
A group of Scottish women have launched legal action against Johnson & Johnson accusing the firm of selling them talcum powder contaminated with asbestos.
From BBC
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.
