adulterated

English

Etymology

The adjectival sense's relation to adultery is the common theme that corruption or pollution has occurred; more at adulterate § Etymology.

Adjective

adulterated (not comparable)

1. 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

• laced

Related terms

• adulterant

Verb

adulterated

1. simple past and past participle of adulterate