sanitize
verb
san·i·tize
ˈsa-nə-ˌtīz 
sanitized; sanitizing
1
: to reduce or eliminate pathogenic agents (such as bacteria) on the surfaces of (something) : to make (something) sanitary (as by cleaning or disinfecting)
You can use sponges and dishcloths safely if you take care to sanitize them, says Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California, Davis.—
Nick Gallo
Nick GalloCity Sanitarian Lauri Sorel said no soot was found and restaurants only had to sanitize food service surfaces with a mixture of bleach and water.—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News
The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-NewsHe had every store and delivery truck sanitized, and he set up a department to make unannounced health inspections of stores, vowing to temporarily shut down any slackers for cleanup.—Suzanne Hoppough
Suzanne Hoppough2
: to make (something, such as text) more acceptable by removing, hiding, or minimizing any unpleasant, undesirable, or unfavorable parts
The memories—and memoirs—of former intelligence hands tend to be selective as well as sanitized, either by the author or by some form of official censorship or both, and the historian must be wary.—Ian Black and Benny Morris
Ian Black and Benny MorrisThey were also forced to "sanitize" reports that might show early church leaders or the official doctrine in a dim light.—Robert Lindsey
Robert LindseyOnce "friended" by a colleague, people feel compelled to employ privacy features—which itself can be a snub—or to sanitize their online profiles—which is akin to hiding something under the bed.—Jared Sandberg
Jared SandbergPublished in Munich in 1987, the diaries are a major tool of that school of historians whose purpose is to relativize, normalize, sanitize the crimes of the Third Reich.—Peter Padfield
Peter PadfieldAnd the movie sanitizes his behavior as well. (It manages to suggest that he's a philanderer without ever once showing him with another woman.)—Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly… civilian casualties are referred to as "collateral damage"—a stunningly abstract and sanitized way to refer to mangled human bodies.—Carol E. Cohn
Carol E. CohnExamples of sanitize in a Sentence
The housekeeping staff sanitized the bathroom.
They're trying to sanitize the news.
Recent Examples on the Web
There's no doubt about it that hot water serves its purpose to clean and sanitize items, but that doesn't mean this setting should be the default for every load.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
Steam cleaner to deodorize, sanitize, and reduce allergens.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
To sanitize your surfaces, use a commercial or homemade disinfectant.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024
The hot water recommended to clean and sanitize fabrics would cause the color to bleed and was a significant issue when doing laundry.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize 
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.
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024
Steam cleaner to deodorize, sanitize, and reduce allergens.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
To sanitize your surfaces, use a commercial or homemade disinfectant.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024
The hot water recommended to clean and sanitize fabrics would cause the color to bleed and was a significant issue when doing laundry.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize
Articles Related to sanitize
Dictionary Entries Near sanitize
Cite this Entry
“Sanitize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitize. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sanitize
verb
san·i·tize
ˈsan-ə-ˌtīz
sanitized; sanitizing
: to make sanitary (as by cleaning or sterilizing)
Medical Definition
sanitize
transitive verb
san·i·tize
variants
also British sanitise
sanitized also British sanitised; sanitizing also British sanitising
: to make sanitary (as by cleaning or sterilizing)
sanitize all surfaces with a solution of bleach and water
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share