sterilize

IPA/ˈsterəlaɪz/
KK[stˈɛrəlˌaɪz]IPA/ˈsterəlaɪz/

sterilize — verb

  • sterilizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sterilizeshe / she / it
  • sterilizedpast simple
  • sterilizing-ing form

1. to carry out a surgical or hormonal procedure on a person or animal that permane

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to carry out a surgical or hormonal procedure on a person or animal that permanently stops them from being able to produce children.

Example

Fatima chose to be sterilized after her third child because her family felt complete.

be sterilized (passive, personal choice)

The vet sterilized Haruto's dog during a routine check-up at the clinic.

Common collocations
  • be sterilized
  • sterilize an animal
  • sterilize a patient
  • choose to be sterilized
  • get sterilized
Synonyms
  • neuter

    used specifically for animals, especially pets; less formal

  • spay

    refers to sterilizing a female animal by removing the ovaries

  • vasectomy

    the specific surgical procedure for a human male; not a verb

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sterilize + person/animal

be sterilized (passive)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice when describing a person choosing or undergoing the procedure. The specific medical terms 'vasectomy' (for men) and 'tubal ligation' (for women) are more precise but less common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The doctor sterilized the wound before stitching it.
The doctor disinfected the wound before stitching it.
Sterilize is for making a person/animal unable to reproduce; for cleaning a wound, use 'disinfect' or 'clean'.

2. to treat an object or surface with heat, chemicals, or other methods so that all

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to treat an object or surface with heat, chemicals, or other methods so that all harmful microorganisms are destroyed.

Example

Parents should sterilize baby bottles by boiling them in water for five minutes.

sterilize + baby bottles + by boiling

The nurse sterilized the surgical instruments before the doctor began the operation.

Common collocations
  • sterilize equipment
  • sterilize bottles
  • sterilize instruments
  • sterilize by boiling
  • sterilize with steam
  • sterilize a surface
Synonyms
  • disinfect

    kills most germs but not necessarily all; more common in everyday use

  • sanitize

    cleans to a safe public-health level; less thorough than sterilize

  • pasteurize

    uses heat to kill harmful germs in liquids like milk; not used for solid objects

Antonyms
  • contaminate

    to make something dirty or infected with germs

Grammar Patterns

sterilize + object/instrument

sterilize + by + method (boiling, heating, chemicals)

Usage Note

Unlike 'disinfect' (which reduces germs to a safe level) or 'sanitize' (which cleans to a public-health standard), sterilizing means destroying all microorganisms including bacterial spores. Common methods include boiling, steam treatment, and chemical solutions.

Common Mistakes

I sterilized my hands before dinner.
I washed my hands before dinner.
Sterilize is too strong for everyday hand-washing; use 'wash' or 'clean'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words refer to reducing or eliminating harmful substances, but they differ in thoroughness and context. 'Sterilize' is the strongest — it means destroying ALL microorganisms, including bacterial spores, typically done with high heat or strong chemicals in medical or laboratory settings. 'Disinfect' kills most germs but not necessarily spores; it is the right word for cleaning wounds and household surfaces. 'Sanitize' is weaker still, reducing germs to a safe public-health level — restaurants sanitize dishes, and parents sanitize pacifiers. 'Pasteurize' is specific to liquids (especially milk and juice), using controlled heating to kill harmful bacteria without boiling. 'Decontaminate' is broader, covering the removal of toxic chemicals or radiation in addition to germs. For example: you disinfect a kitchen counter after cutting raw chicken, but you sterilize surgical tools before an operation.

disinfect ↗sanitizepasteurizedecontaminate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sterilize against infection
  • sterilize for safety
  • sterilize before use
  • sterilize after each use

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Sterilize comes from the Latin word 'sterilis', meaning 'barren' or 'unfruitful'. The suffix '-ize' was added in English to create the verb form. The word first appeared in English in the 1600s, originally describing land that could not grow crops. By the 1800s, it was used for medical procedures that prevent reproduction, and soon after, for killing germs — a meaning that grew with the work of scientists like Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister.