ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Sterilization

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Sterilization is a noun meaning (uncountable) The process of treating something to kill or inactivate microorganisms.

Meaning

(uncountable) The process of treating something to kill or inactivate microorganisms.

More Meanings

  1. (uncountable) A procedure to permanently prevent an organism from reproducing.
  2. (countable) An instance of a sterilization procedure.
  3. (uncountable) A monetary policy operation used to offset a foreign exchange intervention.
  4. (uncountable) The process of permanently rendering a planet like Earth completely uninhabitable to all life, including even microbes, leading to their complete extinction.

Example Sentences

The vet performed several sterilizations this week.
The Federal Reserve is responsible for foreign exchange sterilization.
Spaying a cat is a form of sterilization to limit the population growth.
Heat sterilization is used during canning so the food can be safely stored for long periods.

Word Forms

Synonyms for sterilization

Depending on context, synonyms include sterilisation.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include sterilisation, disinfection, disinfectant, decontamination, autoclave, heat.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.