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Contaminant vs Contamination - What's the difference?

contaminant | contamination |

As nouns the difference between contaminant and contamination

is that contaminant is that which contaminates; an impurity; foreign matter while contamination is the act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement; taint; also, that which contaminates.

contaminant

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • That which contaminates; an impurity; foreign matter.
    • Keep the lid on the jar to keep contaminants out.
    ----

    contamination

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement; taint; also, that which contaminates.
  • (linguistics) A process whereby words with related meanings come to have similar sounds.
  • (linguistics, etymology) The influence of one form (often from a foreign language) on the historical development of another form to which it may be related in meaning.
  • The process of making a material or surface unclean or unsuited for its intended purpose, usually by the addition or attachment of undesirable foreign substances.