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

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

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 notes

In plain EnglishRelating to infection or rot (medically), or to sewage treatment (in "septic tank").

Common pairings

go septic septic tank septic wound septic system

Word forms

more septic comparative, septics plural, septics plural, septics plural, most septic superlative

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The wound turned _____ after being left untreated for days.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σηπτικός (sēptikós, “characterized by putridity”), from σηπτός (sēptós), from σήπω (sḗpō).

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

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infected

Related words

infected contaminated poisoned

Rhymes for septic

skeptic epileptic antiseptic

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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.

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