septic

adjective

sep·​tic ˈsep-tik 

1

: of, relating to, or causing putrefaction

2

: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis

septic patients

3

: used for sewage treatment and disposal

a septic system

also : of or relating to a septic system

septic effluents

Examples of septic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gold emphasized that the city should complete ocean testing as soon as possible to determine whether septic systems are leaking human waste into Santa Monica Bay. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025

With no access to public sewer lines and unaffordable septic systems, some families have dug ditches to divert the waste. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Most of the septic systems for the beach properties are 50 or more years old and non-conforming to current regulations. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

In Massachusetts, towns on Cape Cod are spending millions of dollars to switch from septic systems to public sewer lines and upgrade wastewater treatment plants. —John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin septicus, from Greek sēptikos, from sēpein to putrefy

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing septic

• go septic
• septic shock
• septic sore throat
• septic tank

Rhymes for septic

• peptic
• sceptic
• skeptic
• antiepileptic
• antiseptic
• epileptic
• neuroleptic
• aseptic
• dyspeptic
• organoleptic

Medical Definition

septic

adjective

sep·​tic ˈsep-tik 

1

: putrefactive

2

: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis

septic complications

septic arthritis

septic patients