NYT Dictionary
CONTAMINANT
/kənˈtamɪnənt/Nouncon-TAM-i-nantcon-tam-i-nant · 4 syllablesGrade 7
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026
Meaning
That which contaminates; an impurity; foreign matter.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Borrowed from French contaminant, present participle of contaminer (“to contaminate”), from Latin contāmināre. By surface analysis, contaminate + -ant.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
contaminatorcontaminationpollutantadulterantadulteratorcontaminantimpuritypollutionsophisticanttaint
Antonyms
antipollutantdecontaminantnoncontaminantnonpollutant
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram: