adjective
Uncommon
sterile
STEH-ryl
Sterile (adjective) means Free from all living germs and microorganisms. Example: “The surgeon worked in a completely sterile operating room.”
adjective
1
Free from all living germs and microorganisms.
"The surgeon worked in a completely sterile operating room."
"Make sure the needle is sterile before use."
2
Unable to produce offspring; infertile.
"Some hybrid plants are sterile and cannot produce viable seeds."
3
Lacking creativity, warmth, or productive results; barren.
"The meeting turned into a sterile debate that went nowhere."
How to use sterile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither germ-free, unable to reproduce, or (figuratively) dull and unproductive.
Common pairings
sterile environment
sterile equipment
sterile debate
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sterile
- Superlative
- most sterile
Fill the gap
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The surgeon worked in a completely _____ operating room.
Etymology
From Latin sterilis, meaning "barren" or "unproductive."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sterile
See all rhymes for sterile →Frequently asked questions
What does “sterile” mean?
The word “sterile” means free from all living germs and microorganisms. In plain terms, either germ-free, unable to reproduce, or (figuratively) dull and unproductive.
How do you pronounce “sterile”?
“Sterile” is pronounced STEH-ryl (/ˈstɛɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sterile” in a sentence?
Here is “sterile” used in a sentence: “The surgeon worked in a completely sterile operating room.”
What is another word for “sterile”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sterile” include fruitless.
What is the opposite of “sterile”?
The opposite of “sterile” — its antonyms — are fertile, non-sterile, nonsterile, unsterile and fecund.
What part of speech is “sterile”?
“Sterile” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sterile” come from?
The word “sterile” comes from Latin. From Latin sterilis, meaning "barren" or "unproductive.".
Is “sterile” a common word?
“Sterile” is an uncommon word in modern English.
