septic

[sep-tik]

adjective

1. Pathology.

   1. relating to, caused by, or affected by sepsis or infection.

      Adequate and prompt antibiotic therapy is essential for a septic patient.

      She was admitted to the hospital with septic shock.

   2. causing sepsis or infection.

      If care is not taken, there is the potential for introducing septic agents through injection.

2. relating to or designed for the treatment of sewage by anaerobic bacteria.

   The rural property, just shy of three acres, is on a private well and septic system.

   Contamination of the bay may be a result of insufficient septic drainfields or faulty sewer lines or pumping stations.

noun

Informal.

1. a septic tank or septic system.

   They were able to get to my house the next day, drain the septic, and fix the sump pump.

   Here’s what to do if your septic is leaking.

septic

/ sɛpˈtɪsɪtɪ, ˈsɛptɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by sepsis

2. of, relating to, or caused by putrefaction

noun

1. informal,  short for septic tank

Other Word Forms

• septicity noun
• septically adverb
• nonseptic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of septic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin sēpticus, from Greek sēptikós, from sēpt(ós) “rotted” (from sḗpein “to make rotten”; sepsis ( def. ) ) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of septic¹

C17: from Latin sēpticus, from Greek sēptikos, from sēptos decayed, from sēpein to make rotten

Example Sentences

She’s renovating the property to bring it up to seismic and ADA standards, harden it against wildfires and install a septic tank for a guest house.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2018 Molly developed septic shock while receiving cancer treatment at the same hospital campus, which is now at the centre of a public inquiry into safety issues.

From BBC

"Without that service, I would have probably ended up with my leg turning septic and I'm not too sure what would have happened after that," he says.

From BBC

Her foetus had already been diagnosed with severe developmental defects but she was not offered an abortion and later died from septic shock following the death of her baby.

From BBC

They examined the effects the Palisades and Eaton fires had on 11 community water systems, two sewer systems, and thousands of private wells and septic systems in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangerous 
• deadly 
• destructive 
• fatal 
• lethal 
• noxious 
• pernicious 
• toxic 
• venomous 
• vicious 
• virulent