Definition of the word contaminate

The word "contaminate" comes from the Latin words "contaminare," which means "to dirty" or "to pollute." This Latin verb is a combination of "con," meaning "together," and "tamen," meaning "to taint" or "to stain." In English, the verb "to contaminate" originally meant "to make impure or foul by mixture or association" in the 15th century. Over time, its meaning expanded to include concepts like dirtying or polluting air, water, or soil with pollutants or toxic substances. Today, "contaminate" is commonly used to describe the intentional or unintentional introduction of harmful substances into the environment, leading to pollution and potential harm to living things.