fumigate

verb

fu·​mi·​gate ˈfyü-mə-ˌgāt How to pronounce fumigate (audio)
fumigated; fumigating

transitive verb

: to apply smoke, vapor, or gas to especially for the purpose of disinfecting or of destroying pests
fumigation noun
fumigator noun

Examples of fumigate in a Sentence

All the hospital rooms had to be fumigated. We had to fumigate our apartment to get rid of the ants.
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.
The notorious germaphobe had his house fumigated by staff after Cohn leaves in one scene. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 20 May 2024 Brunswick has a large building where agricultural equipment destined for Australia and New Zealand is fumigated to kill pests. Peter Eavis, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024 Despite its aggressive reputation for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, California releases more of a climate-warming pesticide than all other states combined, most of it from homes fumigated for termites, according to a study published Wednesday. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024 After the building was fumigated, exterminators found 1,270 dead mice, the DOJ said. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fumigate 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin fūmigātus, past participle of fūmigāre "to subject to smoke, get rid of with smoke," from fūmus "smoke" + -igāre, causative suffix, probably generalized from rēmigāre "to use oars, row," verbal derivative of rēmig-, rēmex "oarsman, rower," from rēmus "oar" + -ig-, -ex, agent noun derivative from the base of agere "to be in motion, do, perform" — more at fume entry 1, agent

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fumigate was in 1746

Dictionary Entries Near fumigate

Cite this Entry

“Fumigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fumigate. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fumigate

verb
fu·​mi·​gate ˈfyü-mə-ˌgāt How to pronounce fumigate (audio)
fumigated; fumigating
: to apply smoke, vapor, or gas to especially for the purpose of disinfecting or of destroying pests
fumigation noun
fumigator noun

Medical Definition

fumigate

transitive verb
fu·​mi·​gate ˈfyü-mə-ˌgāt How to pronounce fumigate (audio)
fumigated; fumigating
: to apply smoke, vapor, or gas to especially for the purpose of disinfecting or of destroying pests
fumigation noun
fumigator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fumigate

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