adulterated
English edit
Etymology edit
The adjectival sense's relation to adultery is the common theme that corruption or pollution has occurred; more at adulterate § Etymology.
Adjective edit
adulterated (not comparable)
- Intentionally tainted with impurities (usually as motivated by cheapening the production of a food product or enhancing the psychotropic effects of a street drug).
- The problem of adulterated milk has periodically reemerged as a public health menace, from New York in the 1850s to China in 2008.
- Heroin is often adulterated with fentanyl.
Synonyms edit
Related terms edit
Verb edit
adulterated
- simple past and past participle of adulterate