sterilization

American  

[ster-uh-luh-zay-shuhn] / ˌstɛr ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

• sterilizations
  plural

1. the act of sterilizing.

2. the condition of being sterilized.

3. the destruction of all living microorganisms, as pathogenic or saprophytic bacteria, vegetative forms, and spores.

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sterilization British  

/ ˌstɛrɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or procedure of sterilizing or making sterile

2. the state of being sterile; sterilized condition

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sterilization Scientific  

/ stĕr′ə-lĭ-zā′shən /

1. The procedure of destroying all microorganisms in or on a given environment, such as a surgical instrument, in order to prevent the spread of infection. This is usually done by using heat, radiation, or chemical agents.

2. Any of various surgical procedures intended to eliminate the capacity to reproduce in humans or animals.

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sterilization Cultural  

1. The removal of all microorganisms and other pathogens from an object or surface by treating it with chemicals or subjecting it to high heat or radiation. Sterilization also refers to procedures that result in infertility. Vasectomies and tubal ligations, in which the fallopian tubes of a woman are tied off, are examples of sterilization techniques.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsterilization
  noun
• resterilization
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sterilizations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sterilization

First recorded in 1870–75; sterile + -ization

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sterilization sterilizations

Even rigorous sterilization cannot eliminate every hardy organism.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Wolbachia occurs naturally in mosquitoes, and scientists found they could exploit it: if the male carries the bacteria but the female does not, or carries a different strain, sterilization occurs.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

The staffers were also early adopters of telemedicine; the deadly nature of the Ebola virus required intense sterilization of anything that came into contact with a patient.

From Slate ● May 14, 2026

Around him were additional signs of disrepair: an X-ray examination board without a functioning backlight, and a dust-covered ultraviolet sterilization machine that hadn’t worked in months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026

The vast sterilization and containment programs required the creation of an equally vast administrative apparatus.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

By 1938 its more than 12,000 involuntary sterilizations accounted for nearly half of all those nationwide.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2025

Research later reported rising interest in tubal sterilizations among females was twice as high as the increase among vasectomies in males.

From Salon ● Dec. 11, 2024

And several past presidents supported voluntary and compulsory eugenic sterilizations at some point in their careers.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 24, 2023

Female sterilizations rose to 18 that month from just three in July 2021.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2022

But Priddy was concerned that his attempts to achieve eugenic sterilizations would still be challenged by state and federal courts.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• castration
• infertility