sanitation
/ˌsænɪˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsænɪˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌsa-nə-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)
sanitation — noun
1. the pipes, drains, and treatment plants that carry human waste and dirty water a
the pipes, drains, and treatment plants that carry human waste and dirty water away from homes and buildings to protect public health
After the earthquake, the city's sanitation system broke down, forcing families to use unsafe water.
collocation: sanitation system
The health agency sent soap and sanitation supplies to the flood-affected villages last week.
collocation: sanitation supplies
Poor sanitation in schools can cause children to miss classes because of stomach illnesses.
Megan's neighbourhood finally got proper sanitation after years of waiting for new pipes.
Without basic sanitation, diseases spread quickly through crowded refugee camps.
- sewage system
narrower — specifically refers to pipes that carry human waste, not the full treatment process
- waste management
broader — includes collection, transport, and disposal of all types of waste, not just sewage
用法筆記
Frequently modified by adjectives like 'poor', 'basic', 'proper', and 'inadequate'. This sense refers to the physical infrastructure, not the act of cleaning.
常見錯誤
2. the act of cleaning something thoroughly to destroy germs, often by using heat,
the act of cleaning something thoroughly to destroy germs, often by using heat, chemicals, or other sterilizing methods
Imran wears gloves when handling cleaning chemicals during the sanitation of the kitchen equipment.
sanitation of + noun for the cleaning process
Proper sanitation of surgical tools is essential before every operation in the hospital.
The restaurant stayed closed until Linh completed the sanitation of every surface.
Food sanitation standards require that all cutting boards be washed with hot, soapy water.
- sterilization
stronger — means killing ALL germs, while sanitation may reduce germs to a safe level
- disinfection
similar but typically uses chemical agents rather than heat or physical methods
- cleaning
more general — may not involve germ-killing at all
用法筆記
Common in medical, food-service, and industrial contexts. Often paired with 'of' followed by the object being sanitized (e.g., 'sanitation of equipment').
常見錯誤
3. the overall cleanliness of a place, achieved through the regular removal of wast
the overall cleanliness of a place, achieved through the regular removal of waste and efforts to keep people healthy
Tariq reported that poor sanitation in the market was attracting rats and causing health concerns.
collocation: poor sanitation
The aid group works to improve sanitation in communities that lack clean water and toilets.
Soraya noticed that sanitation at the camp improved after the new drainage was built.
Improving basic sanitation is one of the fastest ways to reduce child deaths from diarrhoea.
- hygiene
broader — includes personal cleanliness habits, not just environmental conditions
- cleanliness
more general — may not imply germ-free conditions or disease prevention
- contamination
the state of being polluted or carrying harmful substances
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes the resulting condition (clean environment), not the pipes and machinery that create it. Frequently used with 'improve', 'lack of', and 'poor'.