contaminate
To make something impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.
Implies rendering something unfit, impure, or dangerous through contact, whereas 'pollute' is broader and often refers to large-scale environments.
Word relationships
- pollute: Pollute refers to introducing harmful substances into the environment on a large scale, while contaminate specifically implies making a specific substance impure or toxic by contact.
- taint: Taint often refers to spoiling the moral quality, reputation, or flavor of something, while contaminate is physical and chemical.
- purify: Purify means to remove contaminants and make something clean and pure.
- decontaminate: Decontaminate is the specific technical process of removing dangerous substances or toxins.
Commonly confused with
- infect: Infect refers specifically to biological pathogens (viruses/bacteria) spreading disease, while contaminate can refer to chemicals, dirt, or radiation.
Word family
- contamination (noun): The action or state of making something impure or dirty.
- contaminant (noun): A substance that contaminates.
Collocations
- contaminate water
- contaminate soil
- highly contaminated
- risk contaminating
Example sentences
- "Throwing greasy pizza boxes into the paper recycling bin can contaminate the entire batch." A warning about recycling practices.
- "Runoff from the industrial site threatened to contaminate the local drinking water supply." An environmental report on water quality.
Memory hook
Think of 'con' (with) + 'tame' (not wild/pure). To contaminate is to ruin the pure, wild state of something. Contaminate: Bad contact ruins the pure.
When not to use
Do not use 'contaminate' when you simply mean 'dirty' or 'messy'. It must involve making something impure or dangerous (e.g., bacteria in food, oil in water).
Fun facts
- In the recycling industry, a single plastic bottle containing leftover soda can 'contaminate' a whole bale of paper, causing the entire batch to be sent to a landfill.
Explore more words
contaminant, contamination, adulteration, cross-contamination, pollutant, forensics
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