1. a substance added to another substance to make it impure or of lower quality

1. serving to adulterate or make impure

Examples

• The food inspector found an adulterant in the milk samples.
• Melamine was used as an adulterant in pet food, causing serious health problems.
• The laboratory tested for common adulterants in the herbal supplements.
• Chalk is sometimes used as an adulterant in powdered drugs.
• The adulterant substance made the medicine less effective.
• Regulations require manufacturers to test for adulterant materials in their products.