sterilize
verb
ster·il·ize
ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 
sterilized; sterilizing
: 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
Christine ColasurdoExamples of sterilize in a Sentence
The organization encourages people to sterilize their cats and dogs.
Recent Examples on the Web
But people with disabilities then were still largely disregarded and treated as lesser members of society, regularly institutionalized in dangerous environments and even forcibly sterilized without their consent.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
To sterilize your fermentation jars and lids, simply place them upside-down on a baking sheet in the oven at 250°F for 20 minutes.
—Olia Hercules, Saveur, 29 May 2025
Climate crisis One obstacle for The Mango Project is that charcoal, which is needed to heat the water used to sterilize jars, can be difficult to obtain.
—John Okot, Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2025
But no signs of verifiable ownership meant the cat would be designated as a community cat — sterilized, vaccinated, marked with an ear clip and put back where they were found to be free-roaming.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sterilize
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Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
To sterilize your fermentation jars and lids, simply place them upside-down on a baking sheet in the oven at 250°F for 20 minutes.
—Olia Hercules, Saveur, 29 May 2025
Climate crisis One obstacle for The Mango Project is that charcoal, which is needed to heat the water used to sterilize jars, can be difficult to obtain.
—John Okot, Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2025
But no signs of verifiable ownership meant the cat would be designated as a community cat — sterilized, vaccinated, marked with an ear clip and put back where they were found to be free-roaming.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sterilize
Cite this Entry
“Sterilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterilize. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Medical Definition
sterilize
transitive verb
ster·il·ize
variants
also British sterilise
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
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