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

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Etymology

Origin of sterilization

First recorded in 1870–75; sterile + -ization

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sterilization sterilizations

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

Ethylene oxide is a colorless gas often used in the sterilization of medical devices, particularly those that can’t be cleaned using steam or radiation.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 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

America outlawed slavery and Jim Crow, expanded the voting franchise, and banned forced sterilization.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

Meanwhile, each morning after putting Henrietta’s cells in culture, Mary started her days with the usual sterilization drill.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

I first read about forced sterilizations in a 2020 article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

From Salon ● Feb. 26, 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

Wade, something she thought would never happen, she asked her health insurance provider if it covered sterilizations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2022

For a while, it seemed as if the future of eugenic sterilizations in America depended on the foggy impressions of a nurse who had been handed a cranky baby without toys.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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Related Words

• castration
• infertility

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