sterility

Rarely ster·ile·ness

[stuh-ril-i-tee]

noun

1. the fact or condition of being free from living germs or microorganisms.

   Perhaps the most critical aspect of packaging is the barrier seal that maintains the sterility of the product.

2. the fact or condition of being incapable of producing offspring.

   A growing body of studies have linked these foods to birth defects, fertility problems, and sterility.

3. the fact or condition of not producing vegetation; barrenness.

   Effects of desertification include land degradation, soil sterility and erosion, and loss of biodiversity.

4. failure to produce results, ideas, etc.; fruitlessness.

   One indication of the sterility of the authors’ approach is the lack of any questions for further study emerging from their 400-page book.

5. the quality of lacking vitality, vibrancy, interest, etc..

   The sterility of the white decor was counterbalanced with woven accents, pops of color, and an eclectic display of handcrafted finds.

6. Botany.,  the inability, or limited ability, of a plant to produce pollen or ova.

   The study showed that high temperatures cause male sterility in rice plants.

Other Word Forms

• antisterility noun
• nonsterility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterility¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin sterilitāt-, stem of sterilitās, equivalent to sterili(s) “barren, unfruitful” + -tās -ty ² ( def. ); sterile ( def. )

Example Sentences

PPE Medpro's spokesperson claimed that the company itself did not undertake the technical work of liaising with manufacturers in China, including quality control and sterility assurance levels.

From BBC

Tracy Long’s project, titled Mamo, questions the sterility and uniformity of prefab design by adding layers of patina, warmth and natural connection to its modular system.

From Los Angeles Times

Bana was intoxicated by his environment — so much so that he wouldn’t want to go back to the sterility of a soundstage.

From Los Angeles Times

Where the aged tree’s limbs once exploded into violet, singed branches crisscrossed in colorless sterility like an unfinished painting.

From Los Angeles Times

Most recently, drug company Brassica Pharma recalled four eye ointments sold in stores, including Walmart and CVS, after a Food and Drug Administration inspection flagged potential sterility issues.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• impotence 
• infertility