Word
contaminate
Phoneticscon·tam·i·nate, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈtæməˌneɪt/
UK/kəntˈæmɪnˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to make something impure or dirty by mixing it with something harmful or unwanted. You use this when you talk about food, water, or air being ruined by a bad substance.
v. to make something impure or less pure by the addition of a foreign or harmful substance. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The factory waste might contaminate the local river.”
“If you leave the food out in the sun, it will contaminate the rest of the batch.”
“Environmental scientists are concerned that the chemical spill could contaminate the groundwater, making the surrounding land unsuitable for future agricultural use.”
Examples
simple
“The factory waste might contaminate the local river.”
contextual
“If you leave the food out in the sun, it will contaminate the rest of the batch.”
complex
“Environmental scientists are concerned that the chemical spill could contaminate the groundwater, making the surrounding land unsuitable for future agricultural use.”
Real-World Examples
“Throwing unused drugs into the trash can contaminate waterways and soil.” “The discovery meant the cement lining originally planned was no longer an option as it could contaminate the clean groundwater.” 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.
First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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