decontaminate

verb

de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating; decontaminates
Synonyms of decontaminatenext

transitive verb

: to rid of contamination (such as radioactive material)
decontamination
ˌdē-kən-ˌta-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
noun
decontaminator
ˌdē-kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
noun

Examples of decontaminate in a Sentence

Special workers were called in to decontaminate the area after the oil spill.

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decontaminate was in 1936

Rhymes for decontaminate

See All Rhymes for decontaminate

Browse Nearby Words

deconstructivism
decontaminate
decontextualize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decontaminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decontaminate. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

decontaminate

verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
: to rid of something (as radioactive material) that contaminates
decontamination
-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

decontaminate

transitive verb
de·​con·​tam·​i·​nate ˌdē-kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
decontaminated; decontaminating
: to rid of contamination (as radioactive material)
decontamination
-ˌtam-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce decontaminate (audio)
noun

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