adj
Uncommon
septic
SEHP-tihk
Septic (adj) means Infected or contaminated with bacteria that cause tissue decay or a whole-body infection. Example: “The wound turned septic after being left untreated for days.”
adj
1
Infected or contaminated with bacteria that cause tissue decay or a whole-body infection.
"The wound turned septic after being left untreated for days."
"Doctors treat septic infections as medical emergencies."
noun
1
A septic tank, or a system that treats household sewage on-site rather than through a public sewer.
"Their house in the countryside runs on a septic system, not mains drainage."
How to use septic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to infection or rot (medically), or to sewage treatment (in "septic tank").
Common pairings
go septic
septic tank
septic wound
septic system
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like septic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- septics
- Comparative
- more septic
- Superlative
- most septic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wound turned _____ after being left untreated for days.
Etymology
This comes from Ancient Greek σηπτικός (sēptikós, "characterized by putridity"), from σηπτός (sēptós), from σήπω (sḗpō).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for septic
See all rhymes for septic →Frequently asked questions
What does “septic” mean?
The word “septic” means infected or contaminated with bacteria that cause tissue decay or a whole-body infection. In plain terms, relating to infection or rot (medically), or to sewage treatment (in "septic tank").
How do you pronounce “septic”?
“Septic” is pronounced SEHP-tihk (/ˈsɛp.tɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “septic” in a sentence?
Here is “septic” used in a sentence: “The wound turned septic after being left untreated for days.”
What part of speech is “septic”?
Depending on how it is used, “septic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “septic” a common word?
“Septic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “septic” have?
“Septic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: infected or contaminated with bacteria that cause tissue decay or a whole-body infection.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include septic:
