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
Trihalomethanes are chemicals formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with organic matter, such as animal waste, treated sewage, leaves, or soil.—Emily Main
Clean 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
2
: 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
3
: 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
Cite this Entry
“Disinfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinfect. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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