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
Examples of sterile in a Sentence
a sterile dressing for a wound
sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children
Recent Examples on the Web
While originally thought to be sterile, Callery pears, native to Asia, became popular among landscapers and spread rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, according to Sean Zieche, the district manager of the Lombard office of Davey Tree, a professional tree service company.
—
Jerry Wu, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Last, but certainly not least from the Article Memorial Day sale, the brand’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
Another risk is infection from non-sterile equipment, which might happen if the procedure is done by inexperienced technicians or in non-medical settings, Hazan says.
—Erica Sweeney, Time, 11 May 2026
Also, remove diseased leaves around otherwise healthy plants and apply a clean, sterile mulch to protect them while overwintering.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
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Jerry Wu, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Last, but certainly not least from the Article Memorial Day sale, the brand’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
Another risk is infection from non-sterile equipment, which might happen if the procedure is done by inexperienced technicians or in non-medical settings, Hazan says.
—Erica Sweeney, Time, 11 May 2026
Also, remove diseased leaves around otherwise healthy plants and apply a clean, sterile mulch to protect them while overwintering.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Cite this Entry
“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterile. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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