Contaminant: meaning, definitions and examples

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contaminant

 

[ kənˈtæmɪnənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

environmental pollution

A contaminant is a substance that makes something impure by polluting or infecting it. These substances can be found in air, water, soil, food, or other materials.

Synonyms

impurity, pollutant, toxin

Examples of usage

  • The factory released contaminants into the river, causing harm to the ecosystem.
  • Contaminants in the soil can affect the quality of crops grown in that area.
Context #2 | Noun

chemistry

In chemistry, a contaminant refers to any substance that is unintentionally present in a sample or material, affecting the purity of the desired compound.

Synonyms

foreign substance, impurity

Examples of usage

  • The presence of contaminants in the drug sample affected the results of the experiment.
  • It is important to remove contaminants from laboratory equipment to ensure accurate testing.

Translations

Translations of the word "contaminant" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contaminante

🇮🇳 प्रदूषक

🇩🇪 Schadstoff

🇮🇩 kontaminan

🇺🇦 забруднювач

🇵🇱 zanieczyszczający

🇯🇵 汚染物質

🇫🇷 contaminant

🇪🇸 contaminante

🇹🇷 kirletici

🇰🇷 오염 물질

🇸🇦 مُلوِّث

🇨🇿 kontaminant

🇸🇰 kontaminant

🇨🇳 污染物

🇸🇮 onesnaževalec

🇮🇸 mengunarefni

🇰🇿 ластандырғыш

🇬🇪 დაბინძურებელი

🇦🇿 çirkləndirici

🇲🇽 contaminante

Word origin

The word 'contaminant' originated from the Latin word 'contaminare', meaning 'to defile or make impure'. The concept of contaminants has been recognized throughout history as substances that can harm or degrade the purity of other materials. In modern times, with increasing concerns about pollution and environmental degradation, the term 'contaminant' has gained significant importance in discussions around sustainability and health.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,941, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.