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Added 10 October 2026

disinfectant

/dɪs.ɪnˈfɛktənt/ adjective

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about disinfectant at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Serving to kill germs or viruses.
I washed repeatedly with a disinfectant soap but I still caught the flu.

noun

A substance that kills germs or viruses.
The scalpels were soaked in disinfectant before the operation so disease wouldn't be spread.

Origin

From disinfect + -ant, borrowed from French désinfectant.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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