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

Cooley told the Independent that once the fungus takes over a male cicada’s body, their testes are the first to go, sterilizing the insect before killing it. —USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Even elsewhere in the Milky Way, at greater distances, the radiation could still sterilize half of all life on Earth. —Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024

Risk of infection To see how Matabele ants carry out their treatment, researchers experimentally injured two groups of worker ants, exposing one group to soil while the other group was sterilized with saline solution. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2024

Ethylene oxide is a gas used to sterilize roughly half of all medical devices and is also used to ensure the safety of certain spices and other food products. —Matthew Daly, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024

Pasteurization heats the milk to kill off the resident bacteria, sterilizing it, but these microbes are believed to produce their own lactase enzymes that can facilitate digestion. —Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024

Courtesy Bea Amma The bacterium is also often connected to cosmetic procedures that involve injections if the equipment is not sterilized properly, said Dr. Claire Brown, an infectious disease expert at UCLA. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 1 Jan. 2024

Use a plastic scrubber or bristle brush (the boiling water will sterilize your Dutch oven) to clean out the rest and wipe it with a towel. —Pete Zimowsky, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024

Price at time of publication: $70 The Details: Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 11 inches Heating method: Steam Special features: Also sterilizes, warms baby food Auto shutoff? —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 18 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sterilize

• pre-sterilize

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