sterilization

American  

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

noun

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

• nonsterilization
  noun
• resterilization
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sterilization

First recorded in 1870–75; sterile + -ization

Example Sentences

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

In her very long and very twisty new novel, the author examines a Depression-era sterilization law in Mississippi, thereby connecting three white female characters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The action around ethylene oxide would affect about 90 commercial sterilization facilities owned and operated by approximately 50 companies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Academically, the fact that insects could be sterilized by exposure to X-ray had been known since 1916, when an entomologist by the name of G. A. Runner reported such sterilization of cigarette beetles.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• castration
• infertility