contaminator

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /kənˈtæməˌneɪtɚ/ UK /kənˈtæmɪˌneɪtə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a person or thing that pollutes or defiles something

The leaking tank was identified as the chief contaminator of the aquifer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person or thing that... polluterdefilercorrupter adulteratorinfector

Opposites

purifiercleanser

Word family

Related forms contaminate contaminant contamination

Etymology

From Latin contaminare ('to defile, pollute') plus the agentive suffix -tor; from contamen ('pollution'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch').

contaminare Latin tangere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# contaminator

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtæməˌneɪtɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈtæmɪˌneɪtə/

## Meanings
1. a person or thing that pollutes or defiles something

## Examples
- The leaking tank was identified as the chief contaminator of the aquifer.

## Synonyms
- polluter
- defiler
- corrupter
- adulterator
- infector

## Antonyms
- purifier
- cleanser

## Related Forms
- contaminate
- contaminant
- contamination

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contaminare
- Root: tangere

## Etymology
From Latin contaminare ('to defile, pollute') plus the agentive suffix -tor; from contamen ('pollution'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch').

## AI Etymology
Contaminator is a noun meaning "a person or thing that pollutes or defiles something". Historically, it is from Latin contaminare ('to defile, pollute') plus the agentive suffix -tor; from contamen ('pollution'), from con- ('together') + tangere ('to touch'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: contaminator is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "a person or thing that pollutes or defiles something", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Latin contaminare with Latin tangere. Close English family members include contaminate, contaminant, and contamination.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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