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Definition of contamination

contamination

/kənˌtæm.əˈneɪ.ʃən/
con · tam · i · na · tion
Plural:contaminations
•
Adjective:contaminative
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contamination Lexical Profile

contamination Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning.

Example

"Strict laboratory protocols were implemented to prevent bacterial contamination of the water samples."

2

In linguistics and literature, the blending of two words, phrases, or stories with similar meanings or uses to produce a new hybrid form.

Example

"The nonstandard phrase 'irregardless' is a classic example of lexical contamination between 'irrespective' and 'regardless'."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for contamination

• Nearby Words

containment
contaminant
contaminate
contamination
contaminator
contemplate
contemplation

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Latin contaminatio, from the verb contaminare ('to defile or corrupt by contact'), derived from con- ('together') and an older root *tagmen ('touch'), related to tangere ('to touch').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Contamination. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/contamination
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