1
a
: failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores
b
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
c
: incapable of germinating
sterile spores
d
of a flower
: neither perfect nor pistillate
2
a
: unproductive of vegetation
a sterile arid region
b
: free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms
a sterile syringe
c
: lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless
a sterile work of art
Examples of sterile in a Sentence
a sterile dressing for a wound
sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of the sterile, procedural environment of a courtroom, the production team has built an elaborate workplace drama around their unsuspecting star — complete with corporate power struggles, coworker dynamics and what sounds like high-stakes boardroom tension.
—
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Plants can seed readily, so look for sterile varieties such as 'Select Blue', 'Walker’s Low', or 'Cat’s Meow' that won’t become weedy in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Mulch To maintain healthy strawberries, Montgomery places a sterile straw around the plants and then applies an additional layer of mulch on top.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Forego sterile minimalism and use this $14 two-pack of glass bottles for everyday everyday necessities like vitamins and mouthwash to be visible and within arm’s reach.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
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Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Plants can seed readily, so look for sterile varieties such as 'Select Blue', 'Walker’s Low', or 'Cat’s Meow' that won’t become weedy in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Mulch To maintain healthy strawberries, Montgomery places a sterile straw around the plants and then applies an additional layer of mulch on top.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Forego sterile minimalism and use this $14 two-pack of glass bottles for everyday everyday necessities like vitamins and mouthwash to be visible and within arm’s reach.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Cite this Entry
“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterile. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sterile
adjective
ster·ile
ˈster-əl 
1
: not able to produce fruit, crops, or offspring : not fertile
sterile soil
2
: free from microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria and viruses)
a sterile dressing for a wound
Medical Definition
sterile
adjective
ster·ile
ˈster-əl, chiefly British -ˌīl
1
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
compare infertile
2
: free from living organisms and especially microorganisms
a sterile syringe
a sterile cyst
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