contaminate en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /kənˈtæmɪnæɪt/ (Australia)
- /kənˈtɛmənæɪt/ (New-Zealand)
- /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
- /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [kənˈtɛəm.ɪ.neɪt] (Canada, General-American) /æ/ raising
- (New-Jersey) audio
- (California) audio
Etymology
First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaten (“to defile; to infect with desease”), from contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin contāminātus, the perfect passive participle of contāminō (“to touch together, blend, mingle, corrupt, defile”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), which see for further informations. More at taste, tax, and taxi.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.
Bombs and munitions meanwhile contain toxic substances that contaminate soil, water, and vegetation.
2025 November 20, Simmone Shah, “Ukraine to Claim $44bn in Climate Damages From Russia. Why War Is So Bad For Emissions”, in TIME, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2025:This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.
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(transitive) To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes?
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated.
1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC:[Martin] Heidegger's repellent political beliefs do not contaminate his philosophical work.
2014 April 12, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for Hitler [print version: Hitler's philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), London, page R11:
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(transitive) To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.
Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.
- (transitive) To infect, usually of a deadly virus.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| contaminates | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| contaminating | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| contaminated | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| contaminated | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
recontaminate · uncontaminate · noncontaminating · biocontaminate · cross-contaminate · contaminator · decontaminate
Relateds
contamination · contaminable · contaminative
Synonyms
clat · uggle · ruin · bedirty · bedizen · befilth · dirten · immoralize · inquinate · foil · spoil · warp · ball up · lead astray · vitiate · beclart · slur · beray · screw up · tamper · ruin · mar · botch · stain · sully · sowl · foul · besmirch · smutch · blacken · adulterate · sophisticate · slotter · defile · deprave · befile · befoul · taint · seduce · scunge · mess up · corrupt · spot · smirch · turn upside down · leper · bedaub · darken · bewray · smudge · smear · dirty · defile · blur · corrupt · preposterate · suborn · undo · disease · pervert · fuck up · mar · vitiate · blot · foil · poison · assoil · crab · disrupt · jack up · soil · contaminate · beshit · pollute · subvert · blight · disturb · unmoralize · soss · stain · sour · besmear · gunk · put a crimp in · demoralize · debauch · imbrue (especially with blood) · sullow · gunk up · bumble · file · smut · elt · contaminate · mess up · bugger up · bungle · mommick · queer · soil · pollute · upset · tarnish · sully · mishandle · upset the applecart · pollute · sling mud · detort · file · begrime · besully · pollute
Translations (35)
ca contaminar (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · mi whakaparu (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · pl skazić (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · nb kontaminere (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · bg извършвам зловредно вмешателство (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · ru загрязни́ть (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · de verseuchen (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · chr ᎧᏁᏌᏢᏍᎦ (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · cs znečistit (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · pt contaminar (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · ru загрязня́ть (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · mi whakananu (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · da forurene (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · la contāminō (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · grc μιαίνω (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · fr salir (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · lt užteršti (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · fi saastuttaa (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · mi tāhawahawa (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · de verunreinigen (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · de kontaminieren (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · cs kontaminovat (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · gd truaill (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · fi pilata (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · it contaminare (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · ga truailligh (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · gl contaminar (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · pl zatruwać (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · grc μολύνω (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · tr kirletmek (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · fr contaminer (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · bg замърсявам (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · eo kontaĝi (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · da kontaminere (To introduce impurities or foreign matter) · sv kontaminera (To introduce impurities or foreign matter)