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

Risk for contamination is high when food is prepared without adequate sanitation or when drinking water isn't clean. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

The union’s 9,000 members work in such areas as sanitation, street maintenance, police dispatch and the airport, NBC affiliate WCAU reported. —David Chiu, People.com, 1 July 2025

Other tasks included sanitation maintenance, laundry, landscaping, delivering ice and the 2,500 quarts of milk for the hundreds of children in camp. —Joann Deluna, NPR, 30 June 2025

Mike Ortiz is a sanitation worker at Republic Services and a member of Teamsters Local 25. —Mike Ortiz, Boston Herald, 28 June 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