sanitation

noun

san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsa-nə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for sanitation

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sanitation was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sanitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitation. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

sanitation

noun
san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsan-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
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 How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
1
: the act or process of making sanitary
2
: the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions
mouth sanitation

More from Merriam-Webster on sanitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!