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Contaminating: meaning, definitions and examples

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contaminating

 

[ kənˈtæmɪneɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

environmental impact

Contaminating refers to the act of making something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean or harmful. It often denotes pollution of air, water, or soil with harmful substances, compromising health and safety.

Synonyms

fouling, infecting, polluting, tainting

Examples of usage

  • The factory's waste was contaminating the nearby river.
  • Improper disposal of chemicals can lead to contaminating the groundwater.
  • Contaminating sources can pose serious health risks to communities.

Translations

Translations of the word "contaminating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contaminante

🇮🇳 संक्रमण करने वाला

🇩🇪 kontaminierend

🇮🇩 mengkontaminasi

🇺🇦 забруднюючий

🇵🇱 zanieczyszczający

🇯🇵 汚染している

🇫🇷 contaminant

🇪🇸 contaminante

🇹🇷 kirleten

🇰🇷 오염시키는

🇸🇦 ملوث

🇨🇿 kontaminující

🇸🇰 znečisťujúci

🇨🇳 污染的

🇸🇮 onesnaževalni

🇮🇸 mengunandi

🇰🇿 ластандыратын

🇬🇪 დას contaminating

🇦🇿 çirkləndirici

🇲🇽 contaminante

Etymology

The word 'contaminate' comes from the Latin 'contaminare', which means 'to make unclean, to pollute'. It is formed from the prefix 'con-', meaning 'together' or 'with', and 'taminare', derived from 'tam', meaning 'to touch'. The term has been used in English since the late 14th century, initially in the context of spiritual pollution or moral contamination. Over time, its usage expanded to include physical impurities, particularly related to environmental and health issues. Today, contaminating is frequently used in discussions about pollution, public health, and safety, reflecting growing concerns about the impact of human activities on the environment.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,777, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.