Sanitize
SAN-ih-tyz
/ˈsæn.ɪ.taɪz/
To make clean and hygienic, especially by reducing microorganisms to safe levels.
Implies reducing bacterial loads to public health safe levels; figuratively, to make something presentable by removing offensive content.
The story behind the word. Sanitize draws directly from Latin 'sanitas', meaning health or soundness of mind and body (also the source of 'sane'). It entered American English in the 1880s during public health pushes to eradicate disease vectors in rapidly growing cities.
Word relationships
- disinfect: Disinfect implies targeting and killing specific harmful pathogens on surfaces.
- decontaminate: Decontaminate refers broadly to removing hazardous or radioactive materials as well as microbes.
- contaminate: Contaminate means to make impure or polluted by adding harmful substances.
- pollute: Pollute means to make foul or unclean on an environmental level.
Commonly confused with
- Sterilize: Sterilize eradicates ALL microorganisms and spores, whereas sanitize reduces them to safe public health levels.
Word family
- sanitization (noun): The process of making something hygienic and clean.
- sanitizer (noun): A substance or device used for sanitizing, such as hand sanitizer.
- sanitary (adjective): Relating to conditions that affect hygiene and health.
Collocations
- sanitize hands
- sanitize surfaces
- sanitize equipment
- thoroughly sanitize
Example sentences
- "Kitchen workers must thoroughly sanitize all food preparation counters with approved antibacterial spray." Restaurant sanitation manual
- "The biographer was accused of trying to sanitize the politician's controversial early career." Figurative media commentary
Memory hook
SANE + SIZE = making space healthy and safe so you stay sane! Making surfaces healthy and safe.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'sterilize', which requires 100% elimination of all microbial life.
Fun facts
- Hand sanitizer was invented in 1966 by Lupe Hernandez, a nursing student in Bakersfield, California, who realized alcohol could be delivered in a gel.
- 'Sanitize' also gained a popular figurative meaning in journalism: 'sanitizing a story' means removing raw or controversial facts.
Explore more words
sterilize, sterile, sanitation, bleach, decontamination, sterilization
Also appears in
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