decontaminate

verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates

transitive verb

: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)
decontamination noun
decontaminator noun

Examples of decontaminate in a Sentence

Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once contaminated, food cannot be decontaminated, posing risks to human health. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 They’re required to decontaminate all equipment and wear full protective suits with a special kind of respirator. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2025 In all, 42,000 square meters of stonework were cleaned and decontaminated — an area equivalent to roughly six soccer pitches. Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024 Soldiers have to suit up in cumbersome NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protective gear and spend about an hour decontaminating a single vehicle. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decontaminate 

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decontaminate was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near decontaminate

Cite this Entry

“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decontaminate. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

decontaminate

verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates
decontamination noun

Medical Definition

decontaminate

transitive verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating
: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)
decontamination noun

More from Merriam-Webster on decontaminate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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