sterilize

verb

ster·​il·​ize ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized; sterilizing

transitive verb

: to make (something or someone) sterile: such as

a

: to free from all viable microorganisms (as by the use of steam or dry heat)

sterilize surgical instruments in an autoclave

b(1)

: to deprive of the power of reproducing through surgery

sterilize cats and dogs

(2)

: to make incapable of germination

studied the effects of sterilizing wheat florets

c

: to cause (land) to become unfruitful

There, 1,100-degree pyroclastic flows had sterilized the land.

—Christine Colasurdo

Examples of sterilize in a Sentence

The organization encourages people to sterilize their cats and dogs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Use sharp pruners and sterilize the blades after every cut with some rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of the pests. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025

Buck was forcibly sterilized in October 1927, shortly after the court’s ruling. —Alex Green, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025

China, a rising power, subverted Hong Kong, menaced Taiwan, and sterilized Uyghur Muslims in camps, all while the liberal international order effectively shrugged and made its next purchase from Temu. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025

Another pivotal movement was the Supreme Court’s 1927 Buck v. Bell decision, which affirmed that the state of Virginia had the right to sterilize intellectually and developmentally disabled people. —Alex Green, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sterilize

• pre-sterilize

Rhymes for sterilize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

sterilize

verb

ster·​il·​ize ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized; sterilizing

: to make sterile: as

a

: to deprive of the power of reproduction

had their cat sterilized

b

: to free of microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria)

sterilize the dental instruments

sterilization

ˌster-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

sterilize

transitive verb

ster·​il·​ize

variants also British sterilise

ˈster-ə-ˌlīz 

sterilized also British sterilised; sterilizing also British sterilising

: to make sterile:

a

: to deprive of the power of reproducing

b

: to free from living microorganisms (as by the use of physical or chemical agents)

sterilize a surgical instrument

sterilization

ˌster-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

also British sterilisation

-ˌlī-ˈ