sanitation

noun

san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsa-nə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of making sanitary

2

: the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions (as by removal of sewage and trash)

—often used attributively

a sanitation truck

sanitation workers

Examples of sanitation in a Sentence

Diseases can spread from poor sanitation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Members of Teamsters Local 320, which represents 1,400 custodial, food service, maintenance and sanitation workers on U campuses around the state, went on strike Monday night at the Crookston and Morris campuses and expanded to Duluth and satellite campuses Tuesday morning. —Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025

The area was thinly populated before the war and lacks the shelter, sanitation, water and medical care needed to absorb masses of people. —Josh Holder, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

In high-income countries, diarrhea is fairly common but rarely life-threatening because of widespread access to clean water and sanitation, rehydration therapy and adequate nutrition. —Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

Often, pesticide exposure and poor sanitation put both health and dignity at risk. —David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sanitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

sanitation

noun

san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsan-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of making sanitary

2

: the promotion of community hygiene and disease prevention especially by keeping up sewage systems, by collecting and disposing of trash and garbage, and by cleaning streets

Medical Definition

sanitation

noun

san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsan-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of making sanitary

2

: the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions

mouth sanitation