contaminated

adjective

con·​tam·​i·​nat·​ed kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd How to pronounce contaminated (audio)
1
: soiled, stained, corrupted, or infected by contact or association
a contaminated wound
Urine and feces of infected cats and contaminated clothing, bedding, food bowls or toys are also possible modes of transmission.Cat Fancy
2
: made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements
Botulinum toxin is a highly lethal substance which causes death, even in developed countries, when contaminated food is improperly canned or stored.John Laffin
… the material could be used as a filter for cleaning contaminated drinking water.Alexandra Goho

Examples of contaminated in a Sentence

the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply
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.
This represents a significant public health concern as the virus can spread to animals that consume contaminated products. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025 The contaminated product should be thrown away or returned for a refund. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 28 Feb. 2025 The grocery store removed the contaminated products on Feb. 15 after being notified of the incident that occurred on Feb. 10. Terry Dickerson, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025 Though there are many ways to encounter these heavy metals, one is by drinking contaminated water. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contaminated

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of contaminate

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contaminated was in 1576

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Cite this Entry

“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contaminated. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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