Contaminant

Pronunciation: /kənˈtæmənənt/

Contaminant (noun)

  1. A substance that makes something dirty or unsafe by being present where it should not be.
  2. A material in air, water, or soil that causes pollution and can harm living things.
  3. An unwanted ingredient or trace material that affects the quality of a product or measurement.

Examples

  • The lab tests detect a harmful substance in the sample.
  • A harmful substance can cause serious health problems.