verb
disinfect
dihs-ihn-FEHKT
Disinfect (verb) means to clean something thoroughly enough to kill the germs on it. Example: “Nurses disinfect the equipment between patients.”
verb
1
To clean something thoroughly enough to kill the germs on it.
"Nurses disinfect the equipment between patients."
"Remember to disinfect the kitchen counter after handling raw chicken."
How to use disinfect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo kill germs on a surface or object using a cleaning product.
Common mistake
Disinfecting kills most germs; sterilizing kills essentially all of them — the words aren't perfectly interchangeable in medical contexts.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
disinfect a wound
disinfect surfaces
disinfect your hands
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- disinfects
- Past tense
- disinfected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Nurses _____ the equipment between patients.
Etymology
From dis- ("undo") plus infect, echoing the French désinfecter — literally "to remove infection from."
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for disinfect
See all rhymes for disinfect →Frequently asked questions
What does “disinfect” mean?
The word “disinfect” means to clean something thoroughly enough to kill the germs on it. In plain terms, to kill germs on a surface or object using a cleaning product.
How do you pronounce “disinfect”?
“Disinfect” is pronounced dihs-ihn-FEHKT (/dɪs.ɪnˈfɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “disinfect” in a sentence?
Here is “disinfect” used in a sentence: “Nurses disinfect the equipment between patients.”
What part of speech is “disinfect”?
“Disinfect” is a verb.
Where does the word “disinfect” come from?
The word “disinfect” comes from French. From dis- ("undo") plus infect, echoing the French désinfecter — literally "to remove infection from.".
