Verunreinigter

Verunreinigter is an adjective in the German language that describes a substance, material, or environment that has been contaminated or made impure by unwanted substances. It is used in science, industry, regulation, and everyday language to denote a level of impurity relative to a defined standard.

Etymology and grammar: The word is formed from unrein ("not pure") with the prefix ver-, which in German often marks a process or result. The related verb is verunreinigen ("to contaminate"). Verunreinigter is the masculine singular form used attributively (ein verunreinigter Stoff) or predicatively in masculine contexts. Other genders and numbers follow standard adjective declension: verunreinigte Substanz, verunreinigtes Material, verunreinigte Luft.

Usage: In technical writing, verunreinigter or verunreinigt may appear depending on position and emphasis. Verunreinigter highlights impurity in a noun phrase, while verunreinigt serves as a predicate: Der Stoff ist verunreinigt. The term covers chemical, biological, and environmental contaminants, as well as impurities introduced during manufacturing, processing, or handling.

Examples: Ein verunreinigter Brennstoff muss entsorgt werden. Der verunreinigte Bodenabschnitt wurde saniert. In Lebensmittel- und Arzneimittelkontexten wird Verunreinigung vermieden oder geprüft.

Synonyms and related terms include kontaminiert, verschmutzt, belastet; antonyms are rein, sauber, unverseucht. See also Verunreinigung, Reinheit.