sterile

adjective

ster·​ile ˈster-əl How to pronounce sterile (audio)
 chiefly British  -ˌī(-ə)l
1
a
: failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores
b
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
c
: incapable of germinating
sterile spores
d
of a flower : neither perfect nor pistillate
2
a
: unproductive of vegetation
a sterile arid region
b
: free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms
a sterile syringe
c
: lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless
a sterile work of art
sterilely
ˈster-ə(l)-lē How to pronounce sterile (audio)
 chiefly British  -ˌī(-ə)(l)-lē
adverb
sterility noun

Examples of sterile in a Sentence

a sterile dressing for a wound sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children
Recent Examples on the Web The initial Bradford pear trees planted were sterile – meaning the trees could not pollinate themselves to produce viable fruit. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Enfamil Infant Formula is available in powdered or liquid form, which is useful for young babies because liquid formula is sterile. Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Its planes of gray and black feel hard-edged and sterile, which is to say entirely at odds with the emotional warmth of the food coming out of the kitchen. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024 The sometimes-cringe—predominantly petty—flawed humanity on display in thrive posts is a welcome antidote to the sterile brand management happening on so much of social media. Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2024 At the height of the tree’s popularity, growers advertised them as sterile and unable to reproduce. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 The team suggest the technique may be able to detect more unusual particles emitted in nuclear decays, including sterile neutrinos or even particles that may be related to dark matter. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 Contents include different types and sizes of bandages and sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tincture of benzoin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, sting relief wipes, splinter tweezers, blister patches, and more. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 The argument is to send a reassuring message to the public that the cool and careful hand of medical science is used to make punishment sterile. Joel B. Zivot, STAT, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sterile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English steryle, from Latin sterilis; akin to Goth stairo barren animal, Sanskrit starī sterile cow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sterile was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sterile

Cite this Entry

“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterile. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sterile

adjective
ster·​ile ˈster-əl How to pronounce sterile (audio)
1
: not able to produce fruit, crops, or offspring : not fertile
sterile soil
2
: free from microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria and viruses)
a sterile dressing for a wound
sterility noun

Medical Definition

sterile

adjective
ster·​ile
ˈster-əl, chiefly British -ˌīl
1
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
compare infertile
2
: free from living organisms and especially microorganisms
a sterile syringe
a sterile cyst
sterilely adverb
sterility noun
plural sterilities

More from Merriam-Webster on sterile

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