noun
taint
taynt
noun
1
A trace of contamination, corruption, or disgrace attached to something or someone.
"The scandal left a lasting taint on his reputation."
verb
1
To contaminate or spoil something, physically or morally.
"Bribery allegations tainted the entire election."
"Careless handling can taint the flavor of the wine."
How to Use Taint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA trace of contamination or dishonor, or the act of spoiling something with it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with tint, which just means a shade of color with no negative meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tainted reputation
tainted evidence
a taint of scandal
taint the water supply
Word Forms
tainted past tense, tainted past tense, taints plural, taints plural, taints plural, taints singular, taints singular
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The scandal left a lasting _____ on his reputation.
Etymology
From Old French teint ("dyed, tinged"), from Latin tingere — the same root that gives us "tint."