What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contaminated
Example
The water in the river was contaminated with sewage. [contaminated: past participle]
Example
The food was contaminated with salmonella, making many people sick. [contaminated: adjective]
polluted
Example
The air in the city is polluted with smog from factories and cars. [polluted: adjective]
Example
The river was polluted by the chemical waste dumped by the factory upstream. [polluted: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Polluted is more commonly used than contaminated in everyday language, especially when referring to environmental issues. However, contaminated is still a useful word to know, particularly in scientific or medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contaminated and polluted?
Both contaminated and polluted are formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
