decontaminate
|de-con-tam-i-nate|
🇺🇸
/ˌdiːkənˈtæməˌneɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌdiːkɒnˈtæməˌneɪt/
remove contamination / made clean
Etymology
'decontaminate' originates from Latin elements, specifically from the prefix 'de-' plus the Latin verb 'contaminare' where 'de-' meant 'away, remove' and 'contaminare' meant 'to pollute or defile'.
'decontaminate' was formed in English by adding the prefix 'de-' to 'contaminate' (which entered English from Late Latin 'contaminatus' / Latin 'contaminare', through Old French 'contaminer').
Initially formed to mean 'remove pollution or make free from contamination', the word's core meaning has remained consistent and is used today chiefly in technical, medical, and safety contexts to mean 'make safe by removing contaminants'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to remove hazardous substances (such as radioactive material, chemical agents, or biological contaminants) from people, equipment, or an area, making them safe.
The emergency team worked through the night to decontaminate the affected facility.
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Verb 2
to cleanse of infectious agents or harmful microbes (often used in medical or laboratory contexts).
All surgical instruments must be decontaminated before use.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 23:13