sterile

1 of 2

adjective

ster·​ile ˈster-əl 

chiefly British

-ˌī(-ə)l 

1

a

: failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores

b

: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring

a sterile hybrid

c

: incapable of germinating

sterile spores

d

of a flower : neither perfect nor pistillate

2

a

: unproductive of vegetation

a sterile arid region

b

: free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms

a sterile syringe

c

: lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless

a sterile work of art

sterilely

ˈster-ə(l)-lē 

chiefly British -ˌī(-ə)(l)-lē

adverb

sterility

stə-ˈri-lə-tē 

noun

sterility

2 of 2

noun

ste·​ril·​i·​ty stə̇ˈrilətē 

steˈ-, 

-lətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sterile

Synonyms of sterile

Adjective

• barren
• sterilized

Examples of sterile in a Sentence

Adjective

a sterile dressing for a wound

sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Lake Wylie Marine Commission worked with those group to introduce 1,800 sterile Asian grass carp to Lake Wylie in 2009. — John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Her wrists were bandaged and a sterile pad was placed on her neck, Dougherty said. — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Addicts could bring their heroin and cocaine to a 13-seat center where staff dispensed needles, swabs, and sterile water to cook the drugs and offered advice on vein maintenance. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Commercial packaging risks However, prewashed doesn’t mean sterile. — Lisa Cuchara, The Conversation, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English steryle, from Latin sterilis; akin to Goth stairo barren animal, Sanskrit starī sterile cow

Noun

Middle English sterylite, from Middle French sterilité, from Latin sterilitat-, sterilitas, from sterilis sterile + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sterile

• male-sterile
• self-sterile

Rhymes for sterile

• beryl
• feral
• karel
• peril
• seral
• sterol
• carbaryl
• glyceryl
• imperil
• foraminiferal
• tocopherol

Kids Definition

sterile

adjective

ster·​ile ˈster-əl 

1

: not able to produce fruit, crops, or offspring : not fertile

sterile soil

2

: free from microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria and viruses)

a sterile dressing for a wound

sterility

stə-ˈril-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

sterile

adjective

ster·​ile

ˈster-əl, chiefly British -ˌīl

1

: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring

a sterile hybrid

compare infertile

2

: free from living organisms and especially microorganisms

a sterile syringe

a sterile cyst

sterilely

-əl-(l)ē 

adverb

sterility

stə-ˈril-ət-ē 

noun

plural sterilities