1
a
: failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores
b
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
c
: incapable of germinating
sterile spores
d
of a flower
: neither perfect nor pistillate
2
a
: unproductive of vegetation
a sterile arid region
b
: free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms
a sterile syringe
c
: lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless
a sterile work of art
Examples of sterile in a Sentence
a sterile dressing for a wound
sterile couples sometimes choose to adopt needy children
Recent Examples on the Web
These conditions had much higher fatality rates in 1776 because Americans had no antibiotics, few vaccines, no understanding of germ theory, no sterile surgical techniques and limited access to hospitals, experts note.
—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Officials will begin to release sterile male mosquitoes in Rosemont next week to reduce the spread of Aedes aegypti, a disease-carrying invasive mosquito, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Wednesday.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2026
Since 2021, the alliance has distributed sterile syringes to all 77 counties in the state and maintained a physical presence in seven counties, hosting tabling events and operating monthly clinics, as well as four 24-hour syringe takeback kiosks.
—
Maya Henry,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 June 2026
Removing paper from the sterile environment removes human error from the repair.
—
Ed Garibian,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Officials will begin to release sterile male mosquitoes in Rosemont next week to reduce the spread of Aedes aegypti, a disease-carrying invasive mosquito, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Wednesday.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2026
Since 2021, the alliance has distributed sterile syringes to all 77 counties in the state and maintained a physical presence in seven counties, hosting tabling events and operating monthly clinics, as well as four 24-hour syringe takeback kiosks.
—
Maya Henry,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 June 2026
Removing paper from the sterile environment removes human error from the repair.
—
Ed Garibian,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sterile
Cite this Entry
“Sterile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterile. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sterile
adjective
ster·ile
ˈster-əl 
1
: not able to produce fruit, crops, or offspring : not fertile
sterile soil
2
: free from microscopic living things and especially germs (as bacteria and viruses)
a sterile dressing for a wound
Medical Definition
sterile
adjective
ster·ile
ˈster-əl, chiefly British -ˌīl
1
: failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
a sterile hybrid
compare infertile
2
: free from living organisms and especially microorganisms
a sterile syringe
a sterile cyst
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