Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from germs.
He always made sure that any cuts were protected by sterile dressings.
Urine is sterile.
Synonyms: germ-free, antiseptic, sterilized, disinfected More Synonyms of sterile
sterility (stərɪlɪti)uncountable noun
...the antiseptic sterility of the hospital. [+ of]
2. adjective
A person or animal that is sterile is unable to have or produce babies.
George was sterile.
...a sterile male.
Synonyms: barren [archaic], infertile, unproductive, infecund More Synonyms of sterile
sterilityuncountable noun
This disease causes sterility in both males and females.
Synonyms: infertility, childlessness, infecundity [technical] More Synonyms of sterile
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A sterile situation is lacking in energy and new ideas.
[disapproval]
Too much time has been wasted in sterile debate.
Synonyms: unproductive, fruitless, unprofitable, empty More Synonyms of sterile
sterilityuncountable noun
...the sterility of Dorothea's life in industry. [+ of]
Synonyms: emptiness, futility, banality, worthlessness More Synonyms of sterile
More Synonyms of sterile
sterile in British English
(ˈstɛraɪl)
adjective
1.
unable to produce offspring; infertile
2.
free from living, esp pathogenic, microorganisms; aseptic
3.
(of plants or their parts) not producing or bearing seeds, fruit, spores, stamens, or pistils
4.
lacking inspiration or vitality; fruitless
5. economics, US
(of gold) not being used to support credit creation or an increased money supply
Derived forms
sterilely (ˈsterilely)
adverb
sterility (stɛˈrɪlɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin sterilis
sterile in American English
(ˈstɛrəl; British and Canadian; usually ˈstɛrˌaɪl)
adjective
1.
incapable of producing others of its kind; barren
2.
producing little or nothing; unfruitful
sterile soil, a sterile policy
3.
lacking in interest or vitality; not stimulating or effective
a sterile style
4.
free from living microorganisms; esp., aseptic
5. Botany
a.
unable or failing to bear fruit or spores, as a plant, or to germinate, as a seed
b.
having stamens only, as a male flower, or having neither pistils nor stamens
SYNONYMY NOTE: sterile, infertile imply incapability of producing offspring or fruit, as because of some disorder ofthe reproductive system; , barren, unfruitful are specifically applied to a sterile woman or to plants or soil; , impotent is specif. applied to a man who cannot engage in sexual intercourse because of aninability to have an erection. All of these words have figurative uses [sterile thinking, an infertile mind, a barren victory, unfruitful efforts, impotent rage]
OPPOSITE: fertile
Derived forms
sterility (steˈrility) (stəˈrɪləti)
noun
Word origin
L sterilis < IE *ster-, barren (> Gr steira, barren, OE stierc, calf), special use of base *ster-, stiff, rigid > stare
sterile in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(stɛrəl)
adjective
(Pharmaceutical: Physiology)
Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from bacteria and other microorganisms.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ equipment
Packages of sterile equipment should be opened in such a way that the equipment is not contaminated.
Urine does not normally contain bacteria - it is sterile.
Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from bacteria and other microorganisms.
Examples of 'sterile' in a sentence
sterile
The countryside is too sterile to support many native birds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The mice that thrived on it had to be kept in a sterile environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Training will become sterile and troops not fully prepared.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The act itself is done in almost sterile conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But it does them absolutely no good to be in a sterile environment.
The Sun (2012)
Initially, the doctors were reluctant to allow me to enter her sterile room.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This kind of drama has become artificially sterile, wasteful of good technicians and fine actors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It should be administered in extremely clean, sterile conditions.
The Sun (2010)
We want to get away from having a sterile environment where you keep animals alive but it's boring for them.
The Sun (2014)
Our relationship was emotionally sterile.
Christianity Today (2000)
I find the argument on whether charities should be involved in the delivery of public services rather a sterile one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I remember only the dramatically sterile environment, the horrible grey lights.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a rather small and sterile accomplishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Also, it makes it more fun than a typical, sterile studio environment.
The Sun (2012)
The umbilical cord and blood samples are taken out in a sterile room, documented and then checked for infections before being moved into a second sterile room.
The Sun (2014)
I had my ear pierced years ago - maybe the needle wasn't sterile.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I'm pleased to learn they're manufactured to high standards in a sterile environment.
The Sun (2013)
The only difference is that instead of cutting yourself with a dirty razor, you're doing it in a sterile environment under general anaesthetic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We've got photos of him in his bouncing chair in hospital, sat beneath a plastic cover to keep his environment sterile and free from germs.
The Sun (2007)
In other languages
sterile
British English: sterile /ˈstɛraɪl/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is sterile is completely clean and free of germs.
...a sterile needle.
American English: sterile
Arabic: عَقِيمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: estéril
Chinese: 贫脊的
Croatian: sterilan
Czech: sterilní
Danish: steril
Dutch: steriel
European Spanish: estéril esterilizado
Finnish: steriili
French: stérile
German: steril
Greek: στείρος
Italian: sterile
Japanese: 滅菌した
Korean: 균이 없는
Norwegian: steril
Polish: sterylny
European Portuguese: estéril
Romanian: steril
Russian: стерильный
Latin American Spanish: estéril
Swedish: steril
Thai: ปราศจากเชื้อ
Turkish: steril
Ukrainian: стерильний
Vietnamese: vô trùng
Chinese translation of 'sterile'
sterile
(ˈstɛraɪl)
adj
[bandage, needle]消过(過)毒的 (xiāoguodú de)
[person, animal]不育的 (bùyù de)
[debate, ideas]枯燥乏味的 (kūzào fáwèi de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
free from germs
He always made sure that any cuts were protected by sterile dressings.
Synonyms
germ-free
antiseptic
These herbs have strong antiseptic qualities.
sterilized
disinfected
aseptic
Opposites
dirty
,
infected
,
contaminated
,
unhygienic
,
insanitary
,
unsterile
,
germ-ridden
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of plants) not producing or bearing seeds
a sterile male
Synonyms
barren (archaic)
He also wants to use water to irrigate barren desert land.
infertile
The waste is dumped, making the surrounding land infertile.
unproductive
increasingly unproductive land
infecund
Opposites
productive
,
fertile
,
prolific
,
fruitful
,
fecund
3 (adjective)
Definition
lacking inspiration or energy
Too much time has been wasted in sterile debate.
Synonyms
unproductive
They are aware much of their time and effort is unproductive.
fruitless
It was a fruitless search.
unprofitable
an endless, unprofitable argument
empty
Without my friends my life would be lonely and empty.
unfruitful
unprolific
4 (adjective)
a sterile and barren wasteland
Synonyms
bare
a bare landscape
dry
an infuriating list of dry facts and dates
unproductive
waste
Yarrow can be found growing wild on waste ground.
empty
The room was bare and empty.
desert
the desert wastes of Mexico
barren
the Tibetan landscape of the high barren mountains
desolate
a desolate, barren place
arid
the arid zones of the country
infertile
unfruitful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of antiseptic
Definition
preventing infection by killing germs
These herbs have strong antiseptic qualities.
Synonyms
hygienic,
clean,
pure,
sterile,
sanitary,
uncontaminated,
unpolluted,
germ-free,
aseptic
in the sense of arid
Definition
having little or no rain
the arid zones of the country
Synonyms
dry,
desert,
dried up,
barren,
sterile,
torrid,
parched,
waterless,
moistureless
in the sense of desert
the desert wastes of Mexico
Synonyms
barren,
dry,
waste,
wild,
empty,
bare,
lonely,
solitary,
desolate,
arid,
unproductive,
infertile,
uninhabited,
uncultivated,
unfruitful,
untilled
Synonyms of 'sterile'
sterile
Explore 'sterile' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of desolate
Definition
uninhabited and bleak
a desolate, barren place
Synonyms
uninhabited,
deserted,
bare,
waste,
wild,
ruined,
bleak,
solitary,
barren,
dreary,
godforsaken,
unfrequented
in the sense of dry
an infuriating list of dry facts and dates
Synonyms
plain,
simple,
bare,
basic,
pure,
stark,
unembellished
in the sense of empty
Definition
without purpose, substance, or value
Without my friends my life would be lonely and empty.
Synonyms
worthless,
meaningless,
hollow,
pointless,
unsatisfactory,
futile,
unreal,
senseless,
frivolous,
fruitless,
aimless,
inane,
valueless,
purposeless,
otiose,
bootless (old-fashioned),
MT
in the sense of empty
Definition
without inhabitants
The room was bare and empty.
Synonyms
bare,
clear,
abandoned,
deserted,
vacant,
free,
void (old-fashioned),
desolate,
destitute,
uninhabited,
unoccupied,
waste,
unfurnished,
untenanted,
without contents,
MT
in the sense of fruitless
Definition
producing nothing of value
It was a fruitless search.
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
unsuccessful,
in vain,
pointless,
futile,
unproductive,
abortive,
to no avail,
ineffectual,
unprofitable,
to no effect,
unavailing,
unfruitful,
profitless,
bootless
in the sense of infertile
Definition
(of soil) not productive
The waste is dumped, making the surrounding land infertile.