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Adulterate: meaning, definitions and examples

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adulterate

 

[ əˈdʌltəreɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

substance quality

To adulterate something means to make it impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality. This term is often used in the context of food or drink, where the original quality is compromised by the addition of cheaper or lower-grade ingredients.

Synonyms

corrupt, debase, dilute, taint

Examples of usage

  • The manufacturer was accused of adulterating the juice with high fructose corn syrup.
  • Many cheap wines are adulterated with flavoring agents.
  • The laboratory found that the sample had been adulterated with a synthetic compound.
  • To save money, some sellers adulterate their spices with fillers.

Translations

Translations of the word "adulterate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 adulterar

🇮🇳 अशुद्ध करना

🇩🇪 verfälschen

🇮🇩 mengotori

🇺🇦 псувати

🇵🇱 fałszować

🇯🇵 adulterate

🇫🇷 adulterer

🇪🇸 adulterar

🇹🇷 katıştırmak

🇰🇷 혼합하다

🇸🇦 تدليس

🇨🇿 znehodnotit

🇸🇰 falšovať

🇨🇳 掺假

🇸🇮 adulterirati

🇮🇸 blanda saman

🇰🇿 араластыру

🇬🇪 არასწორი

🇦🇿 qarışdırmaq

🇲🇽 adulterar

Etymology

The word 'adulterate' comes from the Latin word 'adulterare,' which means to corrupt or debase. 'Adulterare' itself is derived from 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'alter' meaning 'to change.' The term has been used in English since the late 15th century, primarily in the context of food and drink, but it has since broadened to refer to any form of corruption or deterioration of quality. As industries have evolved, especially in food processing and chemical manufacturing, the notion of adulteration has become increasingly scrutinized, leading to regulations and standards to combat this practice.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,329 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.