sanitize

especially British, san·i·tise

[san-i-tahyz]

verb (used with object)

sanitized, sanitizing 

1. to free from dirt, germs, etc., as by cleaning or sterilizing.

2. to make less offensive by eliminating anything unwholesome, objectionable, incriminating, etc..

   to sanitize a document before releasing it to the press.

sanitize

/ ˈsænɪˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to make sanitary or hygienic, as by sterilizing

2. to omit unpleasant details from (a news report, document, etc) to make it more palatable to the recipients

Other Word Forms

• sanitization noun
• unsanitized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanitize¹

First recorded in 1830–40; sanit(ary) + -ize

Example Sentences

They saw people going in and out, carrying boxes out of the house onto a flatbed truck as though they were “sanitizing a crime scene,” the family’s lawsuit says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

City crews have sanitized Gage Avenue and Avalon Boulevard in South Los Angeles more than 20 times just this year, according to Price’s office.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They actually thought about handing their winnings over to some certified, qualified, sanitized, honest-to-God professional investor to run the money for them.

Read more on Literature

Then, once the athletes are sitting comfortably, he recommends they use sanitizing wipes to clean any areas they might touch: the seat belt, arm rests, air nozzle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The real-estate investor took off her shoes, sanitized her feet and waded into a giant vat filled to the brim with juicy grapes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• decontaminate 
• disinfect