# taint

/ˈteɪnt/ (US) · /tˈeɪnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/taint
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to contaminate

verb · CEFR B2

to spoil something by adding a small amount of something harmful or dirty.

For teachers: to contaminate or corrupt something by the introduction of an external agent, whether physical or moral.

- The chemicals from the factory began to taint the local water supply.
- The investigation revealed that the evidence had been tainted by improper handling, rendering it inadmissible in the upcoming trial.

Usage: Usually transitive, requiring a direct object that is being spoiled.

### 2. to mark as unsafe

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to mark computer data as unsafe so the system checks it for security risks.

For teachers: to mark a variable or data input as untrusted or unsafe, requiring subsequent security validation before processing.

- The program will taint any data that comes directly from a user's input.
- By using a taint-analysis tool, the developers identified several entry points where unvalidated strings could lead to a buffer overflow.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of 'taint analysis' or 'taint checking'.

### 3. a trace of disgrace

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a small amount of something bad that ruins the quality of something or someone's reputation.

For teachers: a mark of disgrace or a trace of a bad quality that spoils the reputation of a person or the integrity of an object.

- The scandal left a permanent taint on the politician's long career.
- Despite his acquittal, the taint of suspicion lingered in the minds of the public for years to come.

### 4. body part

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for the area of the body between the genitals and the anus.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the perineum.

- He made a crude joke about his taint after the long bike ride.
- The comedian's routine relied heavily on vulgar anatomical references, including several mentions of the taint.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly informal and considered offensive in most social or professional settings.

## Examples

- The software update was suspected of containing a taint.
- Security experts discovered a taint in the third-party library that allowed hackers to access user data.
- The presence of a taint in the source code can lead to a complete system failure if not detected during the initial compilation phase.

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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.