Word
contaminant
Phoneticscon·tam·i·nant, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈtæmənənt/
UK/kəntˈæmɪnənt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. something harmful or dirty that gets into water, food, or air and makes it unsafe to use. You see this word in news about pollution and food safety.
n. an unwanted substance that makes another material impure, often rendering food, water, or air unsafe. Typically refers to trace chemical, biological, or physical agents introduced accidentally or through pollution.
Examples
“This filter removes contaminants from tap water.”
“The factory tests its wastewater daily to ensure no chemical contaminants reach the nearby river.”
“Investigators traced the food poisoning outbreak to bacterial contaminants introduced during packaging, prompting a nationwide recall and stricter hygiene controls.”
Examples
simple
“This filter removes contaminants from tap water.”
contextual
“The factory tests its wastewater daily to ensure no chemical contaminants reach the nearby river.”
complex
“Investigators traced the food poisoning outbreak to bacterial contaminants introduced during packaging, prompting a nationwide recall and stricter hygiene controls.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “contaminant” in context.
Verb
01. contaminant accumulates
“The contaminant accumulates in fish tissue over several years.”
noun + verb
02. contaminant enters
“Once the contaminant enters the food chain, it is very hard to remove.”
noun + verb
03. contaminant spreads
“If the contaminant spreads through groundwater, whole villages are at risk.”
noun + verb
04. detect contaminant
“Scientists use sensitive equipment to detect contaminant levels in soil.”
verb + noun
05. eliminate contaminant
“Boiling the water will eliminate contaminant bacteria and make it safe.”
verb + noun
06. expose to contaminant
“Children living nearby were exposed to contaminant fumes for years.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
07. airborne contaminant
“Workers wear masks to avoid inhaling any airborne contaminant on site.”
adj + noun
08. biological contaminant
“The lab tests for any biological contaminant in the drinking water supply.”
adj + noun
09. chemical contaminant
“The factory was fined for releasing a chemical contaminant into the river.”
adj + noun
Noun
10. exposure to contaminant
“Long-term exposure to contaminant chemicals increases cancer risk.”
noun + prep + noun
11. free from chemical contaminant
“This well water is certified free from chemical contaminant.”
12. high levels of contaminant
“Tests revealed high levels of contaminant in the city's water supply.”
Real-World Examples
“In a semi-enclosed system like the Baltic Sea, limited water exchange exacerbates the problem: contaminants persist longer, sediments act as long-term reservoirs, and chronic exposure becomes unavoidable.” “For one thing, it's important to try and use rainwater to fill the pond up rather than tap water because of additives such as chlorine, and contaminants including nitrates, which may harm wildlife .” “Notably, caffeine emerged as the most significant contaminant, known to impact reproductive health in aquatic organisms.” Etymology
Borrowed from French contaminant, present participle of contaminer (“to contaminate”), from Latin contāmināre. By surface analysis, contaminate + -ant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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