: an object (such as a dish, doorknob, or article of clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious agents (such as bacteria or viruses) and serve in their transmission

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"Disinfectant on your hands keeps us healthier and fomites no longer foment as much disease." Australian newspaper contributor Peter Goers was likely going for alliteration when he paired up fomite and foment, a verb meaning "to promote the growth or development of"—but, whether he realized it or not, the words fomite and foment are related. Fomite is a back-formation of fomites, the Latin plural of fomes, itself a word for "tinder." (Much like tinder is a catalyst of fire, a fomite can kindle disease.) Fomes is related to the Latin verb fovēre ("to heat"), an ancestor of foment.

Examples of fomite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The majority of the illness is passed through contaminated food and fomites, inanimate objects or surfaces that a contaminated individual touched. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025 Avian flu can be transmitted by fomites (contaminated surfaces), droplets, and aerosols. Judy Stone, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from fomites, from New Latin, plural of fomit-, fomes, from Latin, kindling wood; akin to Latin fovēre to heat — more at foment

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fomite was in 1803

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Cite this Entry

“Fomite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fomite. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

: an object (as a dish, toy, book, doorknob, or article of clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious agents (as bacteria or viruses) and serve in their transmission
the much maligned toilet seat is a remarkably ineffective fomite M. F. Rein
what are the most common fomites for rotavirus in day-care settings Pediatric Report's Child Health Newsletter

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