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

Use high heat or the sanitation cycle to kill germs. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2025

If families are starving, struggling to pay school fees, or living without safety or sanitation, they cannot be asked to protect the environment. —Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

In May, a Florida mom captured her toddler's sweet interaction with a local sanitation worker. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025

But, subsequent inspection reports at three of the company's other facilities—ones in Arkansas, Indiana, and a second plant in Virginia—have turned up similar sanitation problems. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 16 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