disinfectant

[ dis-in-fek-tuhnt ]

noun

1. any chemical agent used chiefly on inanimate objects to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful organisms.

adjective

1. serving as a disinfectant.

disinfectant

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛktənt /

noun

1. an agent that destroys or inhibits the activity of microorganisms that cause disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of disinfectant¹

1830–40; < French désinfectant, noun use of present participle of désinfecter, Middle French. See disinfect, -ant

Example Sentences

Dr Morris also highlighted that Bacillus cereus is resistant to some cleaning methods and that sporicides - disinfectants that kill microbial spores - can be required to achieve decontamination.

From BBC

Patient wounds routinely crawling with maggots because health care facilities have no access to soap, gauze, disinfectant and running water.

From Salon

Sample went on to quote former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once said that “sunlight is the best disinfectant” in reference to the details expected in the filing and the potential for redaction.

From Salon

“Medical debt is a dark corner in the U.S. healthcare system,” he said, and shining a light on it can be “a strong disinfectant.”

From Los Angeles Times

But can some surfaces reduce the risk of this type of transmission without the help of household disinfectants?

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cleanser
• soap