decontaminate

[ dee-kuhn-tam-uh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·con·tam·i·nated, de·con·tam·i·nat·ing.

1. to make (an object or area) safe for unprotected personnel by removing, neutralizing, or destroying any harmful substance, as radioactive material or poisonous gas.
2. to make free of contamination; purify:

   to decontaminate a sickroom.

decontaminate

/ ˌdiːkənˈtæmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. tr to render (an area, building, object, etc) harmless by the removal, distribution, or neutralization of poisons, radioactivity, etc

Derived Forms

• ˌdeconˈtamiˌnator, noun
• ˌdeconˈtaminative, adjective
• ˌdeconˈtaminant, noun
• ˌdeconˌtamiˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• decon·tami·nation noun
• decon·tami·native adjective
• decon·tami·nator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decontaminate¹

First recorded in 1935–40; de- + contaminate

Example Sentences

That’s sent water treatment operators scrambling to find ways to decontaminate water supplies without breaking the bank.

From Science Magazine

"You don't want to know what's in there. It's full of human waste and other garbage. We decontaminate immediately after each dive."

From BBC

The MIT team found that this process could effectively decontaminate water with low concentrations of lead.

From Science Daily

When reused, the decontaminated robots still picked up plastic and microbes, albeit smaller amounts of both.

From Science Daily

One team of researchers is focusing on carbon- and sulfur-based quantum dots, using them to create safer invisible inks and to help decontaminate water supplies.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cleanse
• disinfect
• fumigate
• sanitize
• sterilize