fluoridate
verb
fluo·ri·date
ˈflu̇r-ə-ˌdāt 
ˈflȯr-
ˈflȯr-
fluoridated; fluoridating
: to add a fluoride to (something, such as drinking water) to reduce tooth decay
Examples of fluoridate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine in communities across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but still doesn't sit well with some people, and many countries don't fluoridate water for various reasons, including feasibility.
—
Lisa Rathke, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Oct. 2022
In sparsely populated and largely rural Vermont, 29 of the 465 public water systems voluntarily fluoridate, and just over half of residents served by a public system get fluoridated water, according to the Vermont Department of Health.
—Lisa Rathke, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine in communities across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but some people harbor concerns about it and many countries don’t fluoridate water for various reasons, including feasibility.
—Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Feb. 2023
Late last night, Portlanders rejected a plan to fluoridate their city’s water supply (and the water of over a dozen other cities).
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
The vote makes Portland one of the largest American cities not to fluoridate its water supply, second only to San Jose.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
Why would Portland fluoridate if this poster were right?
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but still doesn't sit well with some people, and many countries don't fluoridate water for various reasons.
—Lisa Rathke, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
More than one-third of Canadian residents get fluoridated tap water, while a small percentage of European residents do.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2019
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Lisa Rathke, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Oct. 2022
In sparsely populated and largely rural Vermont, 29 of the 465 public water systems voluntarily fluoridate, and just over half of residents served by a public system get fluoridated water, according to the Vermont Department of Health.
—Lisa Rathke, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine in communities across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but some people harbor concerns about it and many countries don’t fluoridate water for various reasons, including feasibility.
—Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Feb. 2023
Late last night, Portlanders rejected a plan to fluoridate their city’s water supply (and the water of over a dozen other cities).
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
The vote makes Portland one of the largest American cities not to fluoridate its water supply, second only to San Jose.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
Why would Portland fluoridate if this poster were right?
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2013
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s but still doesn't sit well with some people, and many countries don't fluoridate water for various reasons.
—Lisa Rathke, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022
More than one-third of Canadian residents get fluoridated tap water, while a small percentage of European residents do.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Fluoridate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fluoridate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fluoridate
transitive verb
flu·o·ri·date
ˈflu̇r-ə-ˌdāt
ˈflōr-
ˈflōr-
ˈflȯr-
fluoridated; fluoridating
: to add a fluoride to (as drinking water) to reduce tooth decay
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