putrefaction

P3U1T1R1E1F4A1C3T1I1O1N1
/ˌpjuːtɹəˈfækʃən/

noun

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

Similar
rotdecompositionrottingbreakdowncorruptiondegeneracydepravationdepravity
OriginMiddle English putrefaccioun ← Old French putrefaccïon ← Latin putrefactiō →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nounputrefaction (countable and uncountable, plural putrefactions)

plural putrefactions

  1. countableuncountableThe act of causing to rot; the anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of malodorous, incompletely oxidized products.
  2. countableuncountableRotten material.
  3. countableuncountableThe state of being rotten.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor

Similar
rot
Broader
decay

noun(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

Similar
decompositionrotrottingbreakdown
Broader
decay

nounmoral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

Similar
corruptiondegeneracydepravationdepravity
Broader
immorality
Also see
breakdowncorruptiondecompositiondegeneracydepravationdepravityrotrotting

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinputrefactiō
  2. Old Frenchputrefaccïon
  3. Middle Englishputrefaccioun
  4. Englishputrefaction

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”)

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek σῆψις
  • σῆψις (sêpsis)the act of causing to rot
Bulgarian гниене, гнилоч
  • гниене (gniene)the act of causing to rot
  • гнилоч (gniloč)rotted material
  • гнилост (gnilost)the state of being rotted
Chinese Mandarin 腐敗 /腐败
  • 腐敗 /腐败 (fǔbài)the act of causing to rot
Dutch verrotting
  • verrottingthe act of causing to rot
Finnish mädätys, mädättäminen
  • mädätysthe act of causing to rot
  • mädättäminenthe act of causing to rot
  • mädännyttäminenthe act of causing to rot
  • mätärotted material
  • mädäntyminenthe state of being rotted
  • mätäneminenthe state of being rotted
French putréfaction
  • putréfactionthe act of causing to rot
German Fäulnis, Verwesung
  • Fäulnisthe act of causing to rot
  • Verwesungthe act of causing to rot
  • Verrottungthe act of causing to rot
  • Zersetzungthe act of causing to rot
  • Putrefaktionthe act of causing to rot
  • Putreszenzthe act of causing to rot
  • Verjauchungthe act of causing to rot
Greek σήψη, αποσύνθεση
  • σήψη (sípsi)the act of causing to rot
  • αποσύνθεση (aposýnthesi)the act of causing to rot
  • σάπισμα (sápisma)the act of causing to rot
Latin tābēs
  • tābēsrotted material
Māori whakaeronga
  • whakaerongathe state of being rotted
Polish gnicie, zgnilizna
  • gniciethe act of causing to rot
  • zgniliznarotted material
Portuguese putrefação
  • putrefaçãothe act of causing to rot
Romanian putrefacție, putreziciune
  • putrefacțiethe act of causing to rot
  • putreziciunethe act of causing to rot
Russian гние́ние, гниль
  • гние́ние (gnijénije)the act of causing to rot
  • гниль (gnilʹ)rotted material
  • гнильё (gnilʹjó)rotted material
  • гние́ние (gnijénije)the state of being rotted
Spanish putrefacción, podre
  • putrefacciónthe act of causing to rot
  • podrethe act of causing to rot
  • podredumbrethe act of causing to rot
  • pudrimientothe act of causing to rot
  • podrimientothe act of causing to rot
  • podredurathe act of causing to rot
  • pudriciónthe act of causing to rot
Swedish förruttnelse
  • förruttnelsethe act of causing to rot
Tagalog kabulukan
  • kabulukanthe act of causing to rot
Ukrainian гниття́, гниль
  • гниття́ (hnyttjá)the act of causing to rot
  • гниль (hnylʹ)rotted material
Cite this entry
APA

putrefaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/putrefaction

MLA

“putrefaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/putrefaction. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “putrefaction,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/putrefaction.

Source: putrefaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.