contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source. taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness …

TAINT definition: a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful. See examples of taint used in a sentence.

The Taint (novel) or Doctor Who and the Taint, a novel written by Michael Collier and based on the British television series Doctor Who Taint (band), a sludge-metal band from Wales

TAINT definition: 1. to spoil something or give it an unpleasant quality: 2. the act or result of spoiling something…. Learn more.

To affect or associate with something undesirable or reprehensible: a reputation that was tainted by allegations of illegal activity. 2. a. To expose to an infectious agent, toxin, or undesirable substance: …

A taint is an undesirable quality which spoils the status or reputation of someone or something.

There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun taint, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Nov 28, 2025 · Noun taint (plural taints) A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food. A tinge, trace or touch.

An undesirable or corrupting influence or association. Wanted to avoid the taint of an accounting scandal.

To taint something is to spoil or corrupt it, whether it’s water, food, or even a person’s soul. These days, taint gets in the news if a company accidentally taints meat with salmonella bacteria, for example.