sterilization

Other spellings

• (UK) sterilisation

Word parts

sterile + -ization or sterilize + -ation

Noun

Singular sterilization

Plural sterilizations

1. (uncountable) Sterilization is the process of killing living microorganisms or making something free from bacteria.
2. (uncountable) (medicine) Sterilization is a procedure to prevent an organism from reproducing permanently.
3. (countable) An instance of a sterilization procedure.