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
Musicals and medicine seem like opposite ends of the spectrum — one is about spotlight and song, the other about science and sterile environments.
—
Julie Ruth Owen, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That structure was built in the 1950s and feels sterile and outdated.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
Once popular, this shade now feels cold and sterile—a reality that many had to face during the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 28 Jan. 2026
The Loma Linda review emphasized that animals must be specifically trained for therapy use, supervised by a handler, and kept out of sterile zones during certain procedures.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
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Julie Ruth Owen, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That structure was built in the 1950s and feels sterile and outdated.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
Once popular, this shade now feels cold and sterile—a reality that many had to face during the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 28 Jan. 2026
The Loma Linda review emphasized that animals must be specifically trained for therapy use, supervised by a handler, and kept out of sterile zones during certain procedures.
—Henry I. Miller, STAT, 28 Jan. 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 10 Feb. 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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