contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: contaminant

Synonyms

• adulterant
• contaminant
• defilement
• impurity
• pollutant

Examples of contamination in a Sentence

swimming in the lake is banned until the contamination is identified and neutralized

Recent Examples on the Web

The Food and Drug Administration has also said the slivered onions, supplied by food producer Taylor Farms Colorado Springs, are the most likely source of contamination. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024

That plant was cited by the FDA last September for failing to properly investigate bacterial contamination. —Madison Muller, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service confirmed that the ground beef had been ruled out as a source of the contamination. —T. Michelle Murphy, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2024

On October 24, the FDA announced a recall of chicken taco kits produced by Sprouts Farmers Markets over potential listeria contamination. —John Towfighi, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contaminacioun, borrowed from Latin contāminātiōn-, contāminātiō "defilement, pollution," from contāmināre "to defile, pollute" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contaminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contamination

• cross contamination
• self-contamination

Medical Definition

contamination

noun

con·​tam·​i·​na·​tion kən-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: a process of contaminating : a state of being contaminated

2

: something that contaminates