disinfectant
disinfectant Lexical Profile
disinfectant Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A chemical liquid or agent, such as bleach or alcohol, used to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms on non-living surfaces and objects.
"Hospital staff use a medical-grade disinfectant to clean the operating rooms between procedures."
• adjective
Serving to destroy or prevent the growth of disease-causing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms; having the properties of a disinfectant.
"The custodian wiped down the laboratory benches with a strong disinfectant solution."
Word Nuance & Usage
In medical and scientific usage, a "disinfectant" is applied strictly to inanimate surfaces and objects (such as floors, countertops, and surgical instruments), whereas an "antiseptic" is formulated to be safely applied to living skin or tissue.
• Rhymes for disinfectant
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 19th century from French désinfectant, the present participle of désinfecter ("to disinfect"), ultimately tracing back to Latin inficere ("to stain, taint, or corrupt").