adul·ter·ate /ə-'dəl-tə-ˌrāt/ vt -at·ed, -at·ing: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element; esp: to prepare for sale by omitting a valuable ingredient or by replacing more valuable ingredients with less valuable or inert and usu. harmful ingredients or with ingredients different from those claimed
◇ Under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a device such as a piece of medical equipment that is defective in some way is considered adulterated.
adul·ter·a·tion /ə-ˌdəl-tə-'rā-shən/ n
adul·ter·a·tor /ə-'dəl-tə-ˌrā-tər/ n
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.