definitions

sanitary

[ san-i-ter-ee ]
/ ˈsæn ɪˌtɛr i /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sanitary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to health or the conditions affecting health, especially with reference to cleanliness, precautions against disease, etc.
favorable to health; free from dirt, bacteria, etc.: a sanitary washroom.
providing healthy cleanliness: a sanitary wrapper on all sandwiches.

RELATED CONTENT

Libel vs. SlanderLibel vs. Slander. Both concern defamation but learn the difference so you know when to use which word.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

healthful, healthy, hygienic, prophylactic, salubrious, sterile, unsullied, wholesome, purified, sanative, uncontaminated, uninfected, unpolluted

Nearby words

sanioserous, sanious, sanit., sanitarian, sanitarium, sanitary, sanitary belt, sanitary cordon, sanitary engineering, sanitary inspector, sanitary landfill

Origin of sanitary

1835–45; < Latin sānit(ās) health (see sanity) + -ary
SYNONYMS FOR sanitary
1, 2 clean, germ-free, unpolluted, antiseptic. Sanitary, hygienic agree in being concerned with health. Sanitary refers more especially to conditions affecting health or measures for guarding against infection or disease: to insure sanitary conditions in preparing food. Hygienic is applied to whatever concerns the care of the body and the promotion of health: to live in hygienic surroundings with plenty of fresh air.
2 healthy, salutary.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sanitary ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formssan·i·tar·i·ly, adverbsan·i·tar·i·ness, nounpre·san·i·tar·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sanitary

British Dictionary definitions for sanitary

sanitary

/ (ˈsænɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

of or relating to health and measures for the protection of health
conducive to or promoting health; free from dirt, germs, etc; hygienic
Derived Formssanitarily, adverbsanitariness, noun

Word Origin for sanitary

C19: from French sanitaire, from Latin sānitās health
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sanitary

sanitary

adj.

1823, "pertaining to health," from French sanitaire (1812), from Latin sanitas "health," from sanus "healthy; sane" (see sane). In reference to menstrual pads, first attested 1881 (in sanitary towel).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for sanitary

sanitary

[ săn′ĭ-tĕr′ē ]

adj.

Of or relating to health.
Free from elements, such as filth or pathogens, that endanger health; hygienic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.