sanitary
SA-niht-ree
Sanitary (adj) means relating to health and the prevention of disease, especially through cleanliness. Example: “The city upgraded its sanitary systems after the outbreak.”
adj
1
Relating to health and the prevention of disease, especially through cleanliness.
"The city upgraded its sanitary systems after the outbreak."
2
Clean and free of germs or disease-causing filth.
"The kitchen must stay sanitary at all times."
"The inspector said the restrooms weren't sanitary enough to pass."
How to use sanitary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClean, hygienic, and healthy — or relating to public health measures.
Common pairings
sanitary conditions
sanitary napkin
sanitary standards
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Word forms
- Plural
- sanitaries
- Comparative
- more sanitary
- Superlative
- most sanitary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The city upgraded its _____ systems after the outbreak.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 19th century from French sanitaire, built on Latin sanitas, "health" — related to "sanity".
Class of 1800
sanitary joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sanitary
See all rhymes for sanitary →Frequently asked questions
What does “sanitary” mean?
The word “sanitary” means relating to health and the prevention of disease, especially through cleanliness. In plain terms, clean, hygienic, and healthy — or relating to public health measures.
How do you pronounce “sanitary”?
“Sanitary” is pronounced SA-niht-ree (/ˈsænɪˌtɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “sanitary” in a sentence?
Here is “sanitary” used in a sentence: “The city upgraded its sanitary systems after the outbreak.”
What part of speech is “sanitary”?
“Sanitary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sanitary” come from?
The word “sanitary” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin. Borrowed in the 19th century from French sanitaire, built on Latin sanitas, "health" — related to "sanity".
Is “sanitary” a common word?
“Sanitary” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sanitary” have?
“Sanitary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to health and the prevention of disease, especially through cleanliness.
