disinfect
verb
dis·in·fect
ˌdis-in-ˈfekt 
disinfected; disinfecting; disinfects
1
: to cleanse (a surface, a device, a supply of water, etc.) by destroying, inactivating, or significantly reducing the concentration of pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (such as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)
… medical experts say some scopes can be difficult to disinfect through conventional cleaning because of their design, so bacteria are transmitted from patient to patient.—
Chad Terhune
Chad TerhuneTrihalomethanes are chemicals formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with organic matter, such as animal waste, treated sewage, leaves, or soil.—Emily Main
Emily MainClean your humidifier often. Although some parts may be washable in the dishwasher, they still need to be descaled with vinegar and disinfected with bleach.—Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports2
: to relieve (something) of some undesirable quality likened to a disease or infection
But the big question is this: If the bill becomes law, will it truly disinfect our politics?—Nancy Gibbs and Karen Tumulty
Nancy Gibbs and Karen Tumulty3
: to remove a software virus (see virus sense 3) from (a computer or device) often by means of a special program
The earliest viruses were relatively simple routines, and virus detectors could easily disinfect computers.—Philips Chien
Philips ChienExamples of disinfect in a Sentence
Chemicals were added to disinfect the water.
The wound needs to be disinfected.
Recent Examples on the Web
Spritz earrings to disinfect them before wearing to prevent infections in your piercings.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Parents received alerts about HFMD cases through email, robocalls and text messages with district officials saying extra steps were being taken to disinfect classrooms, WATN reported.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Try to keep both dry between uses, disinfect the brush head weekly (soaking it in hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial mouthwash will do the trick), and replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
Anifrani notes that high-touch areas, such as remote controls, thermostats, and coffee makers, are disinfected daily.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disinfect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Parents received alerts about HFMD cases through email, robocalls and text messages with district officials saying extra steps were being taken to disinfect classrooms, WATN reported.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Try to keep both dry between uses, disinfect the brush head weekly (soaking it in hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial mouthwash will do the trick), and replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
Anifrani notes that high-touch areas, such as remote controls, thermostats, and coffee makers, are disinfected daily.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disinfect
Cite this Entry
“Disinfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinfect. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
disinfect
transitive verb
dis·in·fect
ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈfekt
: to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the concentration of pathogenic agents (as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) especially on hard surfaces and in water : to treat (something) with a disinfectant (as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share