sterilize

verb

ster·​il·​ize ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized; sterilizing

transitive verb

: to make (something or someone) sterile: such as

a

: to free from all viable microorganisms (as by the use of steam or dry heat)

sterilize surgical instruments in an autoclave

b(1)

: to deprive of the power of reproducing through surgery

sterilize cats and dogs

(2)

: to make incapable of germination

studied the effects of sterilizing wheat florets

c

: to cause (land) to become unfruitful

There, 1,100-degree pyroclastic flows had sterilized the land.

—Christine Colasurdo

Examples of sterilize in a Sentence

The organization encourages people to sterilize their cats and dogs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than using detergent, the machine produces ozone with ultraviolet light to powerfully disinfect clothes, sterilizing them for up to five uses. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025

Bonacini wants gold — a sterilizing cure that eradicates every trace of the virus and cannot return. —Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025

Unlike jobs predominantly occupied by men—including coding or financial services—an AI bot can’t be trained to take over their daily tasks like sterilizing surgical equipment. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025

So, Monaco washed her hands, sterilized the area, cleaned her extraction tools, and gave it a go. —Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sterilize

• pre-sterilize

Rhymes for sterilize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

sterilize

verb

ster·​il·​ize ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized; sterilizing

: to make sterile: as

a

: to deprive of the power of reproduction

had their cat sterilized

b

: to free of microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria)

sterilize the dental instruments

sterilization

ˌster-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

sterilize

transitive verb

ster·​il·​ize

variants also British sterilise

ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized also British sterilised; sterilizing also British sterilising

: to make sterile:

a

: to deprive of the power of reproducing

b

: to free from living microorganisms (as by the use of physical or chemical agents)

sterilize a surgical instrument

sterilization

ˌster-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

also British sterilisation

-ˌlī-ˈ