sanitation

noun

san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsa-nə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
1
: the act or process of making sanitary
2
: the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions (as by removal of sewage and trash)
often used attributively
a sanitation truck
sanitation workers

Examples of sanitation in a Sentence

Diseases can spread from poor sanitation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
History has shown that better nutrition increases overall resistance to new infections, and better sanitation reduces how much and how often people are exposed to new pathogens. Ron Barrett, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025 Doing so would both advance progress toward universal access to water and sanitation and unlock significant economic benefits. Matt Damon, TIME, 22 Mar. 2025 Palestinian President Office/Reuters Over a two-phase, five-year period, Gaza would be cleared of rubble, new housing erected, roads repaved, and electricity, water, and sanitation networks rebuilt. Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2025 The crew is currently conducting enhanced sanitation procedures and isolating sick people in accordance with CDC policies. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanitation

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sanitation was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sanitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitation. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

sanitation

noun
san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsan-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
1
: the act or process of making sanitary
2
: the promotion of community hygiene and disease prevention especially by keeping up sewage systems, by collecting and disposing of trash and garbage, and by cleaning streets

Medical Definition

sanitation

noun
san·​i·​ta·​tion ˌsan-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce sanitation (audio)
1
: the act or process of making sanitary
2
: the promotion of hygiene and prevention of disease by maintenance of sanitary conditions
mouth sanitation

More from Merriam-Webster on sanitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!