What does vitiate mean?
Vitiate is a formal verb meaning to weaken, spoil, or impair something, especially by introducing a flaw that affects its reliability, effectiveness, or validity. It can also describe moral corruption, as when harmful influences vitiate a person’s judgment or character. The word is especially apt for situations in which something appears sound at first but has been subtly damaged: a mistaken premise can vitiate an argument, or concealed bias can vitiate a supposedly impartial process. Because it is precise and somewhat uncommon, vitiate gives writers a more formal alternative to saying that something has been spoiled, weakened, or corrupted. It is generally used with an object, though related forms such as vitiated and vitiating are common in formal and legal writing. Understanding the word also clarifies its associations with fault and vice, reflected in its Latin ancestry.
verbTo weaken, spoil, or impair the quality, effectiveness, or validity of something; also, to corrupt or degrade it.
- To weaken, spoil, or impair the quality, effectiveness, or validity of something.
- To corrupt or morally degrade something.
"A single misleading report can vitiate the entire analysis."
"A single misleading report can vitiate the entire analysis."
"Grief can vitiate judgment, making even reasonable objections seem hostile."
Its Latin ancestor meant “to make faulty”: vitiate warns that one flaw can spoil something that otherwise appears sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How vitiate is actually used
Vitiate is formal and relatively uncommon. It is usually transitive and carries a strongly negative sense: the thing affected has been made less reliable, effective, valid, or pure, often through a concealed fault or damaging influence.