sterile

1 of 2

adjective

ster·​ile ˈster-əl 

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 

chiefly British -ˌī(-ə)(l)-lē

adverb

sterility

stə-ˈri-lə-tē 

noun

sterility

2 of 2

noun

ste·​ril·​i·​ty stə̇ˈrilətē 

steˈ-, 

-lətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sterile

Synonyms of sterile

Adjective

• barren
• sterilized

Examples of sterile in a Sentence

Adjective

a sterile dressing for a wound

sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cherished relatives died alone in hospital rooms surrounded by sterile machines and an ever-rotating set of masked medical personnel. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

The designer points out that the color palettes that once made rooms feel clean and modern are starting to feel sterile. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026

All-White and Gray Kitchens Designers all agree that all-white kitchens often look basic and sterile. — Jane Kim, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026

To break the chains of infections stemming from contaminated needles, Soqo has proposed supplying thousands of sterile needles and syringes to communities of methamphetamine users. — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English sterylite, from Middle French sterilité, from Latin sterilitat-, sterilitas, from sterilis sterile + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing sterile

• male-sterile
• self-sterile

Rhymes for sterile

• beryl
• feral
• karel
• peril
• seral
• sterol
• carbaryl
• glyceryl
• imperil
• foraminiferal
• tocopherol

Kids Definition

sterile

adjective

ster·​ile ˈster-əl 

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

stə-ˈril-ət-ē 

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

-əl-(l)ē 

adverb

sterility

stə-ˈril-ət-ē 

noun

plural sterilities