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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
Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024
The last release of this barrel-proof, uncut, and unfiltered bourbon was an assertive 135 proof, which is approaching hazmat whiskey levels.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hazmat 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hazmat.' 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 hazmat
Cite this Entry
“Hazmat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hazmat. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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hazmat
nounTom Spousta
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