sanitary

adjective

san·​i·​tary ˈsa-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce sanitary (audio)
1
: of or relating to health
sanitary measures
2
: of, relating to, or used in the disposal especially of domestic waterborne waste
a sanitary sewer system
3
: characterized by or readily kept in cleanliness
sanitary packages
sanitarily adverb

Examples of sanitary in a Sentence

the nurse made sure that everything in the room was sanitary so that the baby wouldn't get sick
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Displaced from his home in Khartoum by the war, Samer has witnessed female peers struggling to obtain sanitary pads. Unicef Usa, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data on the most and least sanitary cruise ships of 2024. Jenna Anderson, Health, 15 Oct. 2024 According to Busch, keeping dryer vents clean, isn’t just a matter of being sanitary, but allows dryers to work efficiently and, more importantly, lowers the risk of fire. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2024 One of the primary means of controlling listeria is controlling the sanitary cleanliness in the packaging environment. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sanitary 

Word History

Etymology

French sanitaire, from Latin sanitas

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sanitary was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near sanitary

Cite this Entry

“Sanitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitary. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sanitary

adjective
san·​i·​tary ˈsan-ə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce sanitary (audio)
1
: of or relating to health : hygienic
sanitary laws
2
: free from filth, infection, or dangers to health

Medical Definition

sanitary

adjective
san·​i·​tary ˈsan-ə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce sanitary (audio)
1
: of or relating to health
sanitary measures
2
: of, relating to, or used in the disposal especially of domestic waterborne waste
sanitary sewage
3
: characterized by or readily kept in cleanliness
sanitary food handling
sanitarily adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sanitary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!