1
: of, relating to, or causing putrefaction
2
: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis
septic patients
3
: used for sewage treatment and disposal
a septic system
also
: of or relating to a septic system
septic effluents
Examples of septic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ten days after the procedure, Swanson developed a serious infection in her knee that produced symptoms of a septic joint, requiring emergency surgery.
—
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2024
Reactive arthritis and septic arthritis are two types of arthritis that can develop following an infection.
—Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 21 July 2024
The Missoula County community’s reluctance to come up with a plan to replace its septic system means no affordable housing can be built for working people.
—Sean Keane, ABC News, 20 July 2024
If paint is washed down the drain, the plastics can clog a septic system, add to sludge in a community sewer system or wind up in rivers and eventually the ocean as microplastics.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for septic 
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2024
Reactive arthritis and septic arthritis are two types of arthritis that can develop following an infection.
—Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 21 July 2024
The Missoula County community’s reluctance to come up with a plan to replace its septic system means no affordable housing can be built for working people.
—Sean Keane, ABC News, 20 July 2024
If paint is washed down the drain, the plastics can clog a septic system, add to sludge in a community sewer system or wind up in rivers and eventually the ocean as microplastics.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for septic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'septic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near septic
Cite this Entry
“Septic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/septic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
septic
adjective
sep·tic
ˈsep-tik 
1
2
: relating to, involving, caused by, or affected with sepsis
septic complications
septic arthritis
septic patients
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