sanitizer

noun

san·​i·​tiz·​er ˈsa-nə-ˌtī-zər 

plural sanitizers

: a substance or product that is used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic agents (such as bacteria) on surfaces

Sales of alcohol-based hand sanitizers were up nearly 17% as of the first week of September compared to the same period last year …

—Laura Landro

"Carvacrol could potentially be used as a food sanitizer … particularly in conjunction with other antimicrobials," says Kelly Bright, associate research scientist in the department of soil, water, and environmental science at the University of Arizona.

—Daniel Stolt

also : a device used in sanitizing

This ozone-generating sanitizer looks like a miniature tanning bed for your manual toothbrush—and it emits ultraviolet light (UV) to kill 99.9 percent of brush germs.

—Malinda Govoni

Among the equipment that impressed him: … A wall-mounted food sanitizer that diverts water from the sink tap and charges it with ozone before dispensing it through the aerator for produce cleaning.

—Howard Riell

Examples of sanitizer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sanitizer has a gentle spray mist that quickly absorbs into your skin, without leaving any sort of sticky residue. —Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2025

Body care, hand soaps, candles, wallflowers fragrance refills, fragrance boosters, laundry detergent, hanging fragrance diffusers, and hand sanitizers are all on sale at Bath & Body Works right this second. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024

To use a laundry sanitizer, review the manufacturer's guidelines on how much to use per load, as measurements vary from brand to brand. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024

And most charge extra for essentials like soap, sanitizer, and tissues. —Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above