# contaminated

/kənˈtæməˌneɪtɪd/ (US) · /kəntˈæmɪnˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contaminated
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. impure or toxic

adjective · CEFR B2

dirty or dangerous because of chemicals, bacteria, or other harmful things.

For teachers: rendered impure, harmful, or unusable by the introduction of undesirable or toxic elements.

- The local council warned residents not to drink the contaminated water.
- The investigation revealed that the groundwater had been contaminated by industrial runoff from the nearby chemical processing plant.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with' to identify the source of pollution.

## Examples

- The local well water is contaminated and unsafe to drink.
- Health officials warned that the spinach might be contaminated with bacteria and should be returned to the store immediately.
- The forensic team worried that the evidence had been contaminated by the first responders, potentially making the DNA results inadmissible during the upcoming trial.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.