often attributive
: a material (such as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions
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The origin of "hazmat" is clear enough - it was formed by combining the first three letters of each of two words: "hazardous" and "material." The word hazmat is fairly young, first appearing in print in 1980. Although it is a noun, "hazmat" tends to be used attributively, meaning that it often appears in sentences before another noun as if it were performing the duties of an adjective (as in "hazmat team" and "hazmat worker").
Examples of hazmat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By Alain Schroeder In Alain Schroeder’s frame, a vulture lies cradled in a burlap sling, its head gently supported by gloved hands, as conservationists in hazmat suits perform a routine health check.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Anyone driving by the farm that day would have been able to spot the white hazmat suits and wonder what the hell was going on.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
The proof of these releases is usually upwards of 110, with some exceptions, which is not aggressively hot and nowhere close to hazmat levels.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025
Some fuel from the tank leaked and led to a precautionary hazmat situation, but crews are working to clean the spill and keep it out of storm drains.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hazmat
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Anyone driving by the farm that day would have been able to spot the white hazmat suits and wonder what the hell was going on.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
The proof of these releases is usually upwards of 110, with some exceptions, which is not aggressively hot and nowhere close to hazmat levels.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025
Some fuel from the tank leaked and led to a precautionary hazmat situation, but crews are working to clean the spill and keep it out of storm drains.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hazmat
Cite this Entry
“Hazmat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hazmat. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hazmat
noun
haz·mat
ˈhaz-ˌmat
often attributive
: a material (as radioactive, flammable, explosive, or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without necessary precautions being taken
toxic waste hauled away by workers in hazmat suits—Tom Spousta
Tom Spoustahazmat storage
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