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Definition of contamination noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

contamination

noun
 
/kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/
 
/kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/
 [uncountable]
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  1. the process or fact of making a substance or place dirty or no longer pure by adding a substance that is dangerous or carries disease synonym adulteration
    • radioactive contamination
    • bacterial/chemical contamination
    • Environmental contamination resulting from human activities is a major health concern.
    opposite decontamination see also cross-contaminationTopics The environmentc1
  2. (formal) the act of influencing people's ideas or attitudes in a bad way
    • They feared cultural contamination from the influx of tourists.
See contamination in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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