contaminated
adjective
con·tam·i·nat·ed
kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-təd 
1
: soiled, stained, corrupted, or infected by contact or association
a contaminated wound
Urine and feces of infected cats and contaminated clothing, bedding, food bowls or toys are also possible modes of transmission.—
Cat Fancy
2
: made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements
Botulinum toxin is a highly lethal substance which causes death … when contaminated food is improperly canned or stored.—John Laffin
… the material could be used as a filter for cleaning contaminated drinking water.—Alexandra Goho
Examples of contaminated in a Sentence
the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply
Recent Examples on the Web
Major soil removal underway Meerbott said restoring the park has become a priority as crews work to remove contaminated soil.
—Marybel Rodriguez, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Leptospirosis can also be found in contaminated water or soil and is spread by rodents.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
Raw shellfish such as clams, mussels and scallops can contain pathogens picked up from contaminated water.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Simple, inexpensive steps — washing hands, replacing contaminated curtains, removing unnecessary devices — have proven track records of reducing infections, saving lives and lowering costs.
—Karina Nicholas, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contaminated. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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