pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·i·za·tion
ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən 
ˌpas-tyə-,
-tə-
1
: partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (such as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without major chemical alteration of the substance
2
: irradiation of food products
Examples of pasteurization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of pasteurization, raw milk producers monitor the health of the cow, according to Raw Farm CEO Mark McAfee.
—
Sam Tupper, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
The milk is being tested before pasteurization, a process that heats milk to a specific temperature over time and kills harmful bacteria and viruses.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back pasteurization for milk safety.
—Natalie Daher, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The site asserts a number of claims the scientific community has debunked: that pasteurization destroys the nutrition in milk, and that raw milk protects against allergies and can treat any number of ailments.
—Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pasteurization 
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Sam Tupper, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
The milk is being tested before pasteurization, a process that heats milk to a specific temperature over time and kills harmful bacteria and viruses.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back pasteurization for milk safety.
—Natalie Daher, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The site asserts a number of claims the scientific community has debunked: that pasteurization destroys the nutrition in milk, and that raw milk protects against allergies and can treat any number of ailments.
—Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pasteurization
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Dictionary Entries Near pasteurization
Cite this Entry
“Pasteurization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pasteurization. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·i·za·tion
ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən
ˌpas-tə-
: the process of heating a liquid (as milk) to a temperature high enough and keeping it at that temperature long enough to kill many objectionable germs and then cooling it rapidly without causing a major change in its chemical composition
Medical Definition
pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·iza·tion
variants
also British pasteurisation
1
: partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys pathogenic microorganisms
2
: partial sterilization of perishable food products (as fruit or poultry) with radiation (as gamma rays emitted by cobalt 60)
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