contaminant

[ kuhn-tam-uh-nuhnt ]

noun

1. something that contaminates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contaminant¹

1920–25; < Latin contāminant- (stem of contāmināns ), present participle of contāmināre. See contaminate, -ant

Example Sentences

J&J has been accused of knowing decades ago that its baby powder could contain contaminants of asbestos.

From BBC

"The wastewater treatment plants are just taking the contaminants from one media and putting it into another," Scott said.

From Science Daily

The bacteria Bacillus cereus was found to be the contaminant in the cause of all three deaths.

From BBC

That’s because these products that include the recycled e-waste don’t disclose a detailed list of all the ingredients and contaminants in the product.

From Los Angeles Times

Not long after its Proposition 65 designation, the California Air Resources Board classified diesel exhaust as a toxic air contaminant, enabling the agency to regulate it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contamination
• impurity
• poison
• pollutant
• toxin