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

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

The rising star is generating serious buzz for his turn as a struggling family man who's a sanitation worker by day and robber of drug dealers by night in HBO’s new series Task, costarring Mark Ruffalo. —Julie Jordan, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Aid groups have raised alarm about woefully inadequate shelter, sanitation, water and food in Muwasi. —Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025

Water Mission, the Christian nonprofit organization behind the event, builds sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. —Gloria Ngwa, Twin Cities, 6 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