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
Cat Fancy2
: made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements
Botulinum toxin is a highly lethal substance which causes death, even in developed countries, when contaminated food is improperly canned or stored.—John Laffin
John Laffin… the material could be used as a filter for cleaning contaminated drinking water.—Alexandra Goho
Alexandra GohoSynonyms
Examples of contaminated in a Sentence
the hospitals had no choice but to throw out the contaminated blood supply
Recent Examples on the Web
Avian influenza in poultry can infect humans through direct exposure to the animals or from contaminated areas.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024
But since they're usually eaten raw, contaminated fruits and vegetables may be more likely to get people sick.
—Korin Miller, Health, 5 June 2024
Consumption of contaminated food can cause salmonellosis, the most common symptoms of which are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consumption.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 June 2024
The shift to more local water supplies can be accelerated, Reznik said, through investments in capturing more stormwater, cleaning up contaminated groundwater and recycling wastewater.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for contaminated 
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024
But since they're usually eaten raw, contaminated fruits and vegetables may be more likely to get people sick.
—Korin Miller, Health, 5 June 2024
Consumption of contaminated food can cause salmonellosis, the most common symptoms of which are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consumption.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 June 2024
The shift to more local water supplies can be accelerated, Reznik said, through investments in capturing more stormwater, cleaning up contaminated groundwater and recycling wastewater.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for contaminated
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contaminated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Contaminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contaminated. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
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