sanitizer

noun

san·​i·​tiz·​er ˈsa-nə-ˌtī-zər 

plural sanitizers

: a substance or product that is used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic agents (such as bacteria) on surfaces

Sales of alcohol-based hand sanitizers were up nearly 17% as of the first week of September compared to the same period last year …

—Laura Landro

"Carvacrol could potentially be used as a food sanitizer … particularly in conjunction with other antimicrobials," says Kelly Bright, associate research scientist in the department of soil, water, and environmental science at the University of Arizona.

—Daniel Stolt

also : a device used in sanitizing

This ozone-generating sanitizer looks like a miniature tanning bed for your manual toothbrush—and it emits ultraviolet light (UV) to kill 99.9 percent of brush germs.

—Malinda Govoni

Among the equipment that impressed him: … A wall-mounted food sanitizer that diverts water from the sink tap and charges it with ozone before dispensing it through the aerator for produce cleaning.

—Howard Riell

Examples of sanitizer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trademark was filed for products including acne treatments, cleansers, moisturizers, SPFs, cosmetics, perfumes, and hair and body care products including soaps and shampoos, among other beauty products including hand sanitizers. — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

The hand sanitizer that made public hygiene look cute and fun? — Sarah Han, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026

The chlorine sanitizing solution bucket for wiping cloths was just water, zero parts per million chlorine sanitizer. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

The facility lacked sanitizer and dishes were not sanitized after washing with soap. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sanitizer

• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• fertilizer
• localizer
• merchandiser