contaminate

[ verb kuhn-tam-uh-neyt; noun adjective kuhn-tam-uh-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·tam·i·nat·ed, con·tam·i·nat·ing.

1. to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.:

   to contaminate a lake with sewage.

   Synonyms: corrupt, poison, infect, taint, pollute, defile

2. to render harmful or unusable by adding radioactive material to:

   to contaminate a laboratory.

noun

1. something that contaminates or carries contamination; contaminant.

adjective

1. Obsolete. contaminated.

contaminate

verb

1. to make impure, esp by touching or mixing; pollute
2. to make radioactive by the addition of radioactive material

adjective

1. archaic.
   contaminated

Derived Forms

• conˈtaminative, adjective
• conˈtaminable, adjective
• conˈtamiˌnator, noun
• conˈtaminant, noun

Other Words From

• con·tami·na·ble adjective
• con·tami·native adjective
• con·tami·nator noun
• con·tami·nous adjective
• noncon·tami·na·ble adjective
• noncon·tami·native adjective
• recon·tami·nate verb (used with object) recontaminated recontaminating
• self-con·tami·nating adjective
• uncon·tami·na·ble adjective
• uncon·tami·nated adjective
• uncon·tami·native adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contaminate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contaminate¹

C15: from Latin contamināre to defile; related to Latin contingere to touch

Example Sentences

Mr Haas also said the idea that J&J hid the contaminated contents of its products from the public, government and other groups was "inconceivable and false".

From BBC

A senior coroner has warned that more babies could die unless "action is taken", following the deaths of three infants who had received contaminated feed while being cared for in hospital.

From BBC

One Los Angeles County senior has died amid a national recall on carrots found to be contaminated with E. coli.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated.

From Los Angeles Times

It is unclear what the source is in each system, but experts say it could be from unpasteurized milk, wild bird droppings or discarded contaminated animal products.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• corrupt
• harm
• infect
• injure
• poison
• pollute
• stain
• taint
• tarnish