First Known Use: 1803
Dictionary
fomite
noun fo·mite \ˈfō-ˌmīt\
plural fo·mites \ˈfō-ˌmīts; ˈfä-mə-ˌtēz, ˈfō-\
Definition of FOMITE
: an object (as a dish or an article of clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission
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Origin of FOMITE
back-formation from fomites, from New Latin, plural of fomit-, fomes, from Latin, kindling wood; akin to Latin fovēre to heat — more at foment
Medical Dictionary
fomite
noun fo·mite \ˈfō-ˌmīt\
plural fo·mites \-ˌmīts; ˈfäm-ə-ˌtēz, ˈfōm-\
Medical Definition of FOMITE
: an inanimate object (as a dish, toy, book, doorknob, or clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission <the much maligned toilet seat is a remarkably ineffective fomite—M. F. Rein> <what are the most common fomites for rotavirus in day-care settings—Pediatric Report's Child Health Newsletter>
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