adulterant

/əˈdʌl.tər.ənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈdʌl.tɚ.ənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rənt/ (ame, mw)

adulterant — noun

  • adulterantsingular
  • adulterantsplural

1. a substance mixed into food, medicine, or another product, usually dishonestly,

1.名詞C1
釋義

a substance mixed into food, medicine, or another product, usually dishonestly, so that it becomes less pure, less effective, or unsafe

例句

Lab tests found an adulterant in the milk sold at the night market.

find an adulterant in food

After the raid, inspectors listed chalk powder as an adulterant in the spice.

同義詞
  • contaminant

    broader; a contaminant may get in by accident rather than being added on purpose

  • impurity

    broader and more technical; it can describe any unwanted material in a substance

  • filler

    often used for a cheap substance added to bulk something out; it is not always harmful

用法筆記

Usually used in food-safety, medical, or legal writing. It often suggests that the added substance should not be there and may hide a product's true quality.

常見錯誤

❌Sugar is an adulterant in this tea.
✅A cheap white powder was used as an adulterant in the tea.
💡An adulterant is an unwanted or deceptive addition, not a normal ingredient.