sterile

[ster-il, -ahyl]

adjective

1. free from living germs or microorganisms; aseptic.

   Successful operations rely on timely delivery of the sterile surgical instruments needed for each procedure.

2. incapable of producing offspring; not producing offspring.

   Synonyms: unfruitful, infecund
   Antonyms: fertile

3. barren; not producing vegetation.

   Attempts to cultivate the land have failed because of the sterile soil.

   Antonyms: fertile

4. Botany.

   1. noting a plant in which reproductive structures fail to develop.

   2. bearing no stamens or pistils.

5. not productive of results, ideas, etc.; fruitless.

6. lacking vitality, vibrancy, interest, etc..

   Art can transform an otherwise sterile office into a happy, inspiring, and comforting space.

sterile

/ ˈstɛraɪl, stɛˈrɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. unable to produce offspring; infertile

2. free from living, esp pathogenic, microorganisms; aseptic

3. (of plants or their parts) not producing or bearing seeds, fruit, spores, stamens, or pistils

4. lacking inspiration or vitality; fruitless

5. economics (of gold) not being used to support credit creation or an increased money supply

sterile

1. Not able to produce offspring, seeds, or fruit; unable to reproduce.

2. Free from disease-causing microorganisms.

Other Word Forms

• sterilely adverb
• sterility noun
• sterileness noun
• half-sterile adjective
• nonsterile adjective
• nonsterilely adverb
• unsterile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterile¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin sterilis “barren, unfruitful”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterile¹

C16: from Latin sterilis

Example Sentences

The agency also said it would build a sterile-fly production facility at Edinburg, Texas, which is close to the Mexico border, and would be able to produce up to 300 million sterile flies per week.

From Los Angeles Times

The family moved to Van Nuys but Redford found it sterile and loathed his new neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

Some 1,000 officers have been assigned to the demonstrations, the Metropolitan Police said, with barriers in place to create a "sterile area" between the two groups.

From BBC

Burnley manager Scott Parker said at the weekend VAR decisions are threatening to turn football into "the most sterile game there is" - but Webb defended its use.

From BBC

Burnley boss Scott Parker said the use of VAR was threatening to turn football into "the most sterile game there is" after his side lost to a controversial late penalty at Manchester United.

From BBC

Related Words

• antiseptic 
• arid 
• barren 
• bleak 
• desolate 
• futile 
• hygienic 
• impotent 
• infertile