Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

putrefaction

/ˌpjuːtɹəˈfækʃən/ noun

In Latin: tābēs First recorded: 1350 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about putrefaction at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The act of causing to rot; the anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of malodorous, incompletely oxidized products.
Rotten material.
The state of being rotten.

Origin

First attested between 1350 and 1400 from Middle English putrefaccioun, from Old French putrefaccïon, from Latin putrefactiō, from putrefactus, perfect passive participle of putrefaciō (“become rotten”)

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word