disinfectant

From disinfect +‎ -ant, borrowed from French désinfectant.

• IPA^(key): /dɪs.ɪnˈfɛktənt/

• Audio (US):

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disinfectant (not comparable)

1. Serving to kill germs or viruses.

   I washed repeatedly with a disinfectant soap but I still caught the flu.

disinfectant (countable and uncountable, plural disinfectants)

1. A substance that kills germs or viruses.

   The scalpels were soaked in disinfectant before the operation so disease wouldn't be spread.

   • 2020 March 5, Christina Zdanowicz, “Here’s a list of disinfectants you can use against coronavirus”, in CNN‎^[1], archived from the original on 23 December 2020:

     "Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement.

   • 2022 February 10, Abdul El-Sayed, “Canadian trucker protests are the latest example of Covid-19 absurdity”, in CNN‎^[2], archived from the original on 22 April 2022:

     Whether boarding an airplane with underwear on your face to protest mask requirements, injecting yourself with horse dewormer instead of a safe and effective vaccine or swallowing household disinfectants because the President of the United States unironically suggested that it might help, the pandemic has amplified the frequency and tenor of ridiculous and sometimes alarming behavior.

• disinfectant time
• sunlight is the best disinfectant

• antiseptic or antibiotic (when used on living organisms)