Contamination

Pronunciation: /kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/

Contamination (noun)

  1. the presence of harmful substances in something, making it unsafe or dirty
  2. the process of adding unwanted substances to something, reducing its quality
  3. the influence of one culture on another, often seen as negative

Examples

  • The contamination of the river affected local wildlife.
  • Contamination of the air can lead to health problems.

Common collocations: water contamination, reduce contamination, contamination levels, prevent contamination, cross contamination

Synonyms of Contamination

Formal

Neutral

Antonyms of Contamination

  • when discussing the removal of impurities
  • when referring to the state of being clean