Word: Adulteration
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: Adulteration refers to the process of mixing a pure substance with another substance, often of lower quality, which makes the original substance impure. This is often done illegally or unethically, especially in food or pharmaceuticals.
Usage Instructions: You can use "adulteration" when talking about products or substances that have been changed from their original state, especially in a negative or harmful way.
Example Sentence: The adulteration of the honey with sugar syrup made it less healthy and less valuable.
Advanced Usage: In scientific and legal contexts, "adulteration" can be used to discuss the purity of substances. For example, in chemistry, the adulteration of a chemical sample can lead to inaccurate results in experiments.
Word Variants: - Adulterate (verb): To mix a pure substance with another substance, making it impure. - Example: The company was accused of adulterating its products to save costs. - Adulterated (adjective): Describing something that has been made impure by mixing it with another substance. - Example: The adulterated milk was not safe for consumption.
Different Meaning: While "adulteration" primarily refers to the mixing of substances, in a broader sense, it can also describe the act of corrupting something or making it worse in quality.
Synonyms: - Contamination - Impurity - Dilution - Degradation
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - "To dilute" can be used to convey a similar meaning to adulteration, especially in more general contexts, such as ideas or principles. - Example: Some argue that the new policy dilutes the original intentions of the law.
Note: Be cautious when using "adulteration" in conversation, as it often carries a negative connotation, implying dishonesty or harm.